ELEMENTS

OF SHORT
STORY
ELEMENTS OF SHORT
STORY
1.CHARACTER
2.POINT OF VIEW
3.PLOT
4.SETTING
5.CONFLICT
6.THEME
7.TECHNIQUES AND LITERARY
DEVICES
8.MOOD
9.TONE
1.CHARACTER
People, animals, or imaginary
creatures that take part in the
action of the story.
2. POINT OF VIEW
a.First Person Point of View
b.Second Person Point of View
c.Third Person Point of View
First Person Point of View
The story is told from the
viewpoint of one of the characters,
using the first person pronoun “I”.
Second Person Point of View
The story is written as if the
reader is one of the characters
and is the “you” referred to in the
story.
Third Person Point of View
The story is told using a narrator
who uses third person pronouns
such as “he”, “she”, “his”, “her”,
“they” etc.
They are also known as
“omniscient” meaning all knowing.
They are not one of the characters.
3. PLOT
The sequence of events in a
story.
PLOT DIAGRAM
Exposition
The beginning of the story
wherein the characters and the
setting are shown and introduced.
Rising action
is the events that increase the
tension. These events lead to the
climax. Conflict is being shown in
here too.
 Climax
The highest point of interest or
turning point in a story.
The most intense, exciting, or
important point of the story.
Falling action
It is when the tension
decreases and everything begins
to settle down. It shows what
happens to the character after the
conflict is resolved.
 Resolution / Denouement
Gives the final outcome of the
story. Can also reveal the Theme
of the story.
It is also when the conflict has
been solved and usually indicates
the ending…and possibly even
“happily ever after”
4. Setting
The time and place in which the
events of the story occur. Without
an interesting setting, the story
may not be successful.
It also includes the cultural,
religious, political, and sociological
views.
5. Conflict
A problem or struggle between
two or more opposing forces.

*Internal Conflict
a character struggles with his/her
own personal issues. Character vs.
Self
*External Conflict
A character struggles against
an outside force such as another
character, a force of nature, or an
aspect of society.
Character vs. Man
Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Society
6. Theme
The main message that the reader
can take from the story.

*Moral
A moral is the lesson of a story.
The moral of a story is supposed to
teach you how to be a better person.
 The theme does not come with only
one word but in a sentence which
describes the the main point.
 Obstacles
“Challenges are
what make life
interesting and
overcoming them is
what makes life
 Love

“Love is not
something you
feel, but is about
something you
do.”
 Reaching Goals
“A dream
becomes a goal
when action is
taken toward its
7. Techniques and Literary
Devices.
 a. Flashback
This is a technique in which the
author interrupts the plot of the story
to tell an incident of an earlier time
(goes back in time; like giving the
reader a memory).
b. 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.
c. Symbolism
is used in literature when one
thing is meant to represent
something else. Symbolism helps
create meaning and emotion in a
story. 
Symbolism is found in colors:

•Black is used to represent death or

evil.
•White stands for life and purity.
•Red can symbolize blood, passion,
danger, or immoral character.
•Purple is a royal color.
•Yellow stands for violence or decay.
•Blue represents peacefulness and
calm.
Symbolic Objects:

•A chain can symbolize the

coming together of two things.
•A ladder can represent the
relationship between heaven and
earth or ascension.
Flowers as Symbols:

•Roses stand for romance.

•Violets represent shyness.
•Lilies stand for beauty and
temptation.
•Chrysanthemums represent
perfection.
d. Plot Twist
A plot twist introduces a radical
change in the direction or expected
outcome of the plot in a work of
fiction.
When it happens near the end of
a story, it is known as a twist or
surprise ending
8. Mood
The feeling that a poem creates in
a reader. It can be positive or
negative.
9. Tone
It is the attitude a writer takes
towards the subject or audience of
the poem