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Short Story Notes

Short Story: Short works of fiction.

Fiction and short stories usually have the following elements: 1) Plot 2) Characters 3) Setting
4) Mood 5) Conflict 6) Theme
#1: PLOT: a series of events that make up a story.
 Inciting Incident : The event that Introduces the central conflict or struggle.
 Climax : The point of highest interest and suspense—the turning point for the
CHARACTER (not the reader).
 Resolution : The point at which the central conflict or struggle is ended.
(a.k.a.: Denouement -day-new-ma-)
 Rising Action : events that lead to the climax.
 Falling Action : events that lead to the resolution.
FREYTAG’S PYRAMID
Climax

Inciting Incident Resolution/Denouement

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#2 THEME: the meaning or message in a story.

Some questions to consider to figure out the theme:

 What does the main character learn about himself / herself, or others by the end
of the story?
 What does the title of the story mean? How does it fit into the story?
 What do you think the author’s message
is?

#3: CHARACTER: a person or animal who takes part in action of a literary work.

 Protagonist : the main character around which the story revolves.

 Antagonist : character who struggles against the protagonist.

#4: CONFLICT: struggle between opposing forces in order to achieve a goal or solve a
problem.

There are 3 main types of conflict:

1) Man vs. Man: conflict with another character or group of people.

2) Man vs. Himself: an internal struggle within the characters mind- a struggle with emotions
or feelings.
3) Man vs. Nature or Society: a character has a struggle with nature where he or she has no
control.
Resolution: The way in which the conflict ends.

#5: SETTING: the time and place in which a story happens.

The setting is usually revealed by a description of: landscape, scenery, buildings, furniture,
seasons and weather

#6: MOOD: atmosphere or feeling of a story created by the writing

2 other definitions to remember:

Foreshadowing: the act of hinting at events to come

Flashback: a switch in time to tell about events that happened earlier

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Elements of Short Stories

I. Plot- sequence of events or incidents that make up a story.

A. Exposition- designed to arouse reader’s interest; background is provided.

B. Conflict - struggle between opposing forces (protagonist vs

antagonist):

1. Person vs. Person - external struggle between two or

more individuals.

2. Person vs. themselves- internal struggle concerning emotion and decision.

3. Person vs. nature - external struggle between person and an element of nature or the
environment.

C. Rising Action -complication or development of the conflict.

C. Climax - turning point of the story; point of most intense interest.

D. Falling action –(denouement) events that lead to resolution.

E. Resolution - outcome of the conflict.

II. Character- is generally the central or focal element in a story.

A. Four types of characterization- techniques the writer uses to develop character.

1. Physical description.

2. Speech and actions of the character.

3. Direct comment from the narrator.

4. Speech and actions of other characters.

B. Four types of characters-

1. Round: complex or presented in detail.

2. Dynamic: developing and learning in the course of the story.
3. Flat: characterized by one or two traits.
4. Static: unchanged from the story’s beginning to end.
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III. Themes of literature/ Analyzing characters-

A. Motivation - cause of/ reason for actions.

B. Behavior - actions of the character.

C. Consequences - results of actions.

D. Responsibility - moral, legal, or mental accountability.

E. Expectations – what the reader expects.

IV. Mood-

A. Setting –the time and place in which the story is taking place, including factors such as
weather and social customs.
B. Atmosphere- the mood or feeling which pervades a story.

V. Point of view-

A. Omniscient- the author tells the story using the third person. Author knows all of what is
done, said, felt, and thought by the characters.
B. Limited omniscient- Author tells the story from the third person but limits observations of
thoughts and feelings to one character, the author presents the story from this character’s
eyes.
C. First person- one character tells the story in the first person. The reader sees and knows
only as much as the narrator.
D. Objective- the author is like a movie camera that moves around freely recording events.
However, the author offers no comments on the characters or their actions. Readers are not
told the thoughts or feelings of the characters.

VI. Figurative language-

A. Simile - comparison using like or as.

B. Metaphor - comparison using is or form of is

1. Implied metaphor
2. Extended metaphor

A. Personification – attributing humanlike qualities to inanimate things.