CHARMO UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

AN INTRODUCTION TO SHORT STORY

rd
3 Semester
LECTURER: AKAM R. MOHAMMED
WHAT IS SHORT STORY?

► A short story is a piece of prose fiction,

usually under 10, 000 words, which can be
read in one sitting.
► (Or) A short story is a brief work of fiction
where, usually, the main character faces a
conflict that is worked out in the plot of the
story.
ELEMENTS OF SHORT STORY

Short stories often contain

structural and character
elements that should be
familiar to you.
These elements can be used as
guides to help you think
about the actions, themes,
and contexts of the story.
WHAT ARE THE
ELEMENTS OF SHORT
STORY?
 1- SETTING
► The setting is where (place) and when (time) the story
occurs.

► Can provide the physical background, environment or

atmosphere.

► Also, can provide details about the social condition of the

characters (daily life).

► It provides information about the weather condition: Is it

rainy, sunny, stormy, etc…
 2- CHARACTER
► Characters are the
people (or animals,
things, etc.
presented as people)
appearing in a
literary work.
► (Or) Character is a
person in a story,
poem or play.
Characters
► Protagonist - The main
character or hero in a
story.

► Antagonist – The
person or force that
works against the hero,
or main character, of
the story.
Types of Characters
► Flat character- A flat character is simple and
one-dimensional, usually only there to fill a
simple role.

► Round character- A round character has a

complex personality, more like a real person.

► Static character- A static character is one who

stays the same throughout the entire story.

► Dynamic character- A dynamic character

changes in some way during the story. They
usually come to some sort of realization that
permanently changes them as a result of the
events in the story.
Characterization
Characterization is the information the author gives the reader about the
character themselves.
There are two methods of characterization:

1- Direct Characterization: The author develops the personality of a

character by direct statements.

2- Indirect Characterization: Revealing a character’s personality through:

► The character’s thoughts, words, and actions
► The comments of other characters
► The character’s physical appearance
3- PLOT
► Plot is how the author arranges events to
develop his basic idea. It is the sequence of
events in a story or play. The plot is a
planned, logical series of events having a
beginning, middle and end. A short story
usually has only one plot.
 The Components of a Plot
Introduction: The beginning of the story where the characters and setting is
revealed.

Rising Action: This is where the events in the story become complicated and the
conflict in the story is revealed (events between the introduction and climax).

Climax / Turning Point: The most intense moment and the highest point of interest.
The reader wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be resolved or not?

Falling Action: The events and complications begin to resolve themselves. (The
events between the climax and the resolution).

Resolution: The conclusion, the untangling of events in the story.

Conflict
► Conflict is the main struggle or
opposition in a story that the
protagonist has to solve or face.
Without conflict there is no
plot.

Conflict in stories are either:

1) Internal
2) External
Internal Conflict
► Human vs. Self: When a character struggles with moral
dilemmas, emotional challenges or desires.

External Conflict
► Human vs. Human: when a character in a story struggles with
another character in the story.
► Human vs. Nature: Nature can cause conflict in the form of a flood,
hurricane, snow storm and much more.
► Human vs. Society: A character may feel repressed by society
creating a conflict.
4- POINT OF VIEW
► The point of view is the perspective from
which the events of the story are presented
to the readers. (who is telling the story)
There are two ways of presenting the story:
1- First person
2- Third person
First person
► a character in the story is
the narrator and uses the
pronoun “I”.

► The story is told through

one characters eyes and
the events are coloured
through that characters
experience.
Third person
The narrator tells the story about other people and
uses the pronouns “they” or “she / he” rather
than “we”.

► There are 2 types of third person point of

view:

1. Omniscient- the narrator knows everything

about all the characters and the events and
can shift from character to character.

2. Limited – the narrator may choose to tell the

story through one character or a group of
character’s eyes.
 5- THEME
► Theme is the central idea or central
message of the story. It usually contains
some insight into the human condition –
telling something about humans and life.
► The theme can be stated directly or implied
by the events and actions in the story.
FLASHBACK
► This is a writers’ technique in which
the author interrupts the plot of the
story to recreate an incident of an
earlier time (goes back in time; like
giving the reader a memory). This
device is often used to provide
additional information to the reader.
FORESHADOWING
This is a writers’ technique in which
the author provides clues or hints
as to what is going to happen later
in the story. It’s like the music in a
scary movie when we know that
something bad is about to happen.
SYMBOL
► An object, person, or event that
functions as itself, but also stands for
something more than itself.
► Example: Scale’s function is to weigh
things,
but they are also a symbol
of our justice system.
THANK YOU