Plot Character Conflict Theme Setting

Elements of a Short Story In a short story, characters, setting, plot, and conflict combine to develop a meaningful theme. 1. Short Story- brief work of fiction intended to be read in a single sitting. 2. Characters- the people or animals who take part in the action. 3. Characterization- what the author uses to help you get to know the characters. It can show:  Character’s Traits- his or her qualities, attitudes, and values--such as dependability  Character’s Motives- the reason for a character’s actions. 4. Setting: where the characters live and act, the time and place of the story. The society in which the character lives. 5. Mood – emotional atmosphere 6. Plot- the sequence of events in a story.  Subplot- secondary story line that adds depth to the main plot  Five Parts of Plot 1. Exposition- introduces the setting- the time and place of the story, the characters, and the basic situation 2. Rising Action- introduces the conflict, or problem 3. Climax- the turning point in which the story’s outcome is determined 4. Falling Action- the part of the story when the conflict lessens; sets up the story’s ending 5. Resolution- story’s conclusion; usually shows how the conflict is settled 7. Conflict- struggle between opposing forces, calls on characters to act and so drive the plot  Internal Conflict- takes place in the mind of a character, as when the character struggles with opposing feelings.  External Conflict- takes place between a character and an outside force, such as nature 8. Theme- a central message or insight about life.  Stated Theme- in expressed directly by the author  Implied Theme- is suggested, or stated indirectly through what happens to the characters.  Universal Theme- or a reoccurring theme, is a message about life that is expressed regularly in many different cultures and time periods. 9. Point of View- perspective from which the story is told  First- Person Point of View- presents the story from the perspective of a character in the story. The narrator uses I , me, my  Third-Person Point of View- tells the story from the perspective of the narrator outside of the story. o Limited Third Person- narrator reveals the thoughts and feelings of a single character o Omniscient Third-person- narrator knows everything that happens and reveals what each character thinks and feels. 10.Foreshadowing- the use of clues in a story to hint at events to come 11.Flashback – the use of scenes within a story that interrupt the sequence of events to reveal past occurrences. 12.Irony- the contrast between an actual outcome and what the reader or character expects. 13.Chronological Order- shows the chain of events as it unfolds in time order 14.Chain of Events- incidents in a story often form a chain of events. Each event affects one or more characters, causing the affected characters to respond in ways that further propel the action. 15.Dialogue- the presentation of characters’ words as uttered, can also move the action along. Dialogue is the key part of characterization, the methods an author uses to help you get to know a character.