The Short Story Unit

Short Story Elements

 1. Setting

 Setting is the time and the place of

the story’s action.
 Setting includes ideas, customs,
values and beliefs
 Short Story Elements
 2. Characters
 Characters are the actors in the story’s
plot.
 They can be people, animals or
whatever the author chooses.
 Short Story Elements
 Characters, continued
 Protagonist-main character

 Antagonist-is in conflict with the main

character. Not all stories have
antagonists.
 Short Story Elements
 3. Point of View
 Point of view refers to the relationship
of the narrator (storyteller) to the story.

 First-person point of view-

narrator is a character in the story,

referred to as “I”
 Short Story Elements
 Third-person limited point of view-
 The narrator reveals the thoughts of
only one character, referring to the
character as “he” or “she”
 Third-person omniscient point of
view-
 Narrator knows everything about
story’s events and reveals the thoughts
of all the characters
 Short Story Elements
 4. Theme

 Theme is the central idea or

message of a story, often a
perception about life or human
nature.
 Short Story Elements
 Stated Themes-
 Are directly presented in the story

 Implied Themes-
 Must be inferred by considering all the
elements of a story and asking what
message about life it conveys
 Short Story Elements
 5. Plot

 Plot is the sequence of events in a

story. Each event causes or leads to
the next. Plot is often created
through conflict, a struggle
between opposing forces.
 Short Story Elements
 External Conflict-
 Between a character and an outside force,
such as another character, nature, society or
life
 Internal Conflict-
 Takes place within the mind of a character
who is torn between opposing feelings or
between different courses of action.
 Short Story Elements
 Most plots develop in 5 stages:

 Exposition-introduction

 Rising Action- complications of

the conflict occur
 Climax-emotional high-point of
the story
 Short Story Elements
 Falling Action- logical result of
the climax
 Resolution- presents the final
outcome of the story
 Short Story Plot

Climax

Fall
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ing
c t i o
g A

Act
in
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ion
Exposition Resolution
 Stories
 The Three Little Pigs
 Little Red Riding Hood
 Tortoise and the Hare
 Snow White
 Cinderella
 Aladdin
 The Lion King
 The Three Bears