SHORT STORY:

ELEMENTS
MAIN ELEMENTS

Setting – the time and location in which a

story takes place
Plot – the sequence of events in a story or
play
Conflict – the opposition of forces which ties
one incident to another and makes the plot
move
MAIN ELEMENTS

Character – the person and his

characteristics in a work of fiction
Point of View – the angle from
which the story is told
Theme – the central idea or belief
SETTING

The time and location in which a story takes place

is called the setting. For some stories the setting is
very important, while for others it is not.
There are several aspects of a story’s setting to
consider when examining how setting contributes
to a story. Some, or all, may be present.
ASPECTS IN SETTING

Place – Where is the story taking place?

Time – When is the story taking place?
Weather conditions – Is it rainy, sunny…?
Social conditions – What is the daily life of the
characters like? Does the story contain local colour?
Mood or atmosphere – What feeling is created at the
beginning of the story?
PLOT

The plot is how the author arranges events to

develop his basic idea; it is the sequence of
events. The plot is a planned, logical series
of events having a beginning, middle and
end. The short story usually has one plot so
it can be read in one sitting.
FIVE ESSENTIAL PARTS
OF PLOT

Introduction – the beginning of the story where the

characters and the setting is revealed
Rising Action – This is where the events in the story
become complicated and the conflict in the story is
revealed
Climax – This is the highest point of interest and the
turning point of the story.
PLOT CONT.
Falling Action – The events and
complications begin to resolve themselves.
The reader knows what has happened next and
if the conflict was resolved or not

Denouement – This is the final outcome or

untangling of events in the story
CONFLICT
It is the opposition of forces which ties one incident
to another and makes the plot move. It is any form
of opposition that faces the main character.

Within a short story there may be only one central

struggle, or one dominant struggle with many minor
ones.
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF
CONFLICT:

1. External – a struggle with a force

outside one’s self

2. Internal – a struggle within one’s self; a

person must make some decision, overcome
pain, quiet their temper, resist un urge, etc.
THERE ARE FOUR KINDS OF
CONFLICT:

1. man vs man (physical)

2. man vs circumstances (classical)

3. man vs society (social)

4. man vs him/herself (psychological)

CHARACTER
This includes the person in a work of fiction and the
characteristics of a person.

In a work of fiction, one finds the protagonist and the

antagonist. The protagonist is the central character with all
major events having some importance to him/her. The
opposer of the main character is the antagonist.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF
A PERSON

Characterization is the information the author gives the

reader about the characters themselves. These include:

a. His/her physical appearance

b. What he/she says, thinks, feels and dreams
c. What he/she does or does not do
d. What others say about him/her and how others react to
him/her
Characters are convincing if they are:
Consistent
Motivated
Life-like

Characters are:
1.Individual (round, many sided and complex)
2.Developing (dynamic, changing)
3.Static (stereotype, characteristics that never change and
are emphasized)
POINT OF VIEW
Is the perspective the author uses to tell the story.

First Person Participant - The narrator is a central character

in the story, and is directly involved in the action.

Example: As I reached the table with the birthday cake, I

tripped on something and fell forward. The chocolate cake
smashed into my best friend Amanda's head. I watched in
horror as her long hair caught on fire.
POINT OF VIEW
First Person Observer - The narrator is a minor character not
directly involved in the action who relates what he or she
observes about the characters and action.

Example: As I sat at the table and waited for cake, I saw Jeff put out his foot
just as the hostess passed him. She tripped and smashed the cake into
Amanda's head. I couldn't believe it when her hair caught on fire. I looked
at Jeff, but he acted like nothing had happened.
POINT OF VIEW
Third Person Objective - The narrator is not a character in the
story and relates the action by limiting the viewpoint to one
character’s perspective.

Example: As the hostess carried the birthday cake to the table, she tripped
and fell forward. The chocolate cake smashed into her best friend Amanda's
head. She watched in horror as her friend's long hair caught on fire.
 POINT OF VIEW
Third Person Omniscient - The narrator is not a character in the
story, but is able to penetrate the thoughts of the characters and
describe the actions and thoughts of the characters as the need arises.

Example: Jeff saw Amanda look at Charles. He suddenly understood why she had been so
distant; she was having an affair with Charles! As the hostess passed him with the cake, he
stuck out his foot to trip her. As the cake smashed on Amanda's head, she felt the sticky
chocolate all over her, and then something hot and painful. The hostess watched in horror; she
couldn't believe that it was her fault that her best friend's hair was on fire .
THEME

The theme is the controlling idea or its

central insight. It is the author’s
underlying meaning or main idea that
he is trying to convey. It may be the
author’s thoughts about a topic or
view of human nature
THEME CONT.

The title of the short story usually points to

what the writer is saying and he may use
various figures of speech to emphasize his
theme, such as:
symbol, allusion, simile, metaphor,
hyperbole or irony