Elements

of a
Short Story
Ms. Ghie D.Vidar
SALIS
Objectives

• Identify and define

elements of a short story

Elements of a Short Story

 Overview
A Short Story is similar to your dish. It needs
the best ingredients for you to enjoy its delectable taste.

Stories are made up of four important

elements:

Setting
Characters, Plot,
and Theme
Elements of a Short Story
Setting
Tells the reader where and when
the story takes place.
 Characters

people
animals
creatures
 Two Identifications of
Characters

2. Antagonist – the
villain in the story who is
1. Protagonist – the hero of always opposing the
the story protagonist
Plot
• The chain of related events that
take place in a story.
• Built around conflict, which is
a struggle between opposing
forces.
• The plot is the sequence or order of events in a
story.
• The plot includes:
Exposition Statement PLOT DIAGRAM
The part of the plot that tells how
the story begins.
Rising Action
The action in the story leading up
to the climax.
Climax
Conflict
The struggles or problems between
opposing forces.

Fa
Climax

o
Conflict

ll
cti
The point of crisis in the plot. It

ing
A
may be the reader’s point of

Ac
ing
highest interest.

tion
Ris
Falling action
The action in the story after
the climax is revealed. Exposition Resolution
Resolution
The part of the plot that reveals
the final outcome.
Types of Conflict
-Man vs. Man
-Man vs. Nature
-Man vs. Obstacle or Society
- Man vs. Supernatural Being
-Man vs. Himself
Theme
• The main idea of a story.
• It is not a moral, lesson, or a
rule for living.
Ex.
Love
Family Feud
Themes from ‘The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet’
CONCLUSION
Now that we have identified and
defined the elements of a short
story, let us use the elements to
analyze a Short Story.

You may use your notes from the

PowerPoint presentation to assist
you when reading..
 Bibliography
Dinneen, K. Elements of the Short Story. Retrieved Jun.
19, 2003, from Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute:
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1983/3/83.03.09.x.html

Five Elements of a Story. Retrieved Jun. 19, 2003,

http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-2277.html

Guevin, D. Short Story Elements. Retrieved Jun. 19, 2003,

http://www.uvm.edu/~dguevin/Elements.html