POINT OF VIEW
Definition: The way in which things appear to the teller of
the story
The author or a short story decides how the story will be told and
what the character(s) will say.
There are three different points of view that may be used in a short
story.
1. First-Person:
The protagonist tells his or her own story directly to the reader.
This point of view tells us what the main character thinks and
feels, and no one else. The word “I” is usually used. It is told from
“inside” the events. The narrator only knows his or her own
thoughts and can only guess on how other characters in the story
think or feel.
2. Third-Person- Limited omniscient:
The narrator refers to the main character as “he” or “she” and
shows us only what one character thinks or feels- but it is told
from someone outside of the story looking in.
3. Third-Person- Omniscient:
This is often referred to as a “God-like” narrator. It tells us the
minds of several or all of the characters. This narrator is “allknowing.” “He” or “she” is usually used to tell the story.
POINT OF VIEW
Definition: The way in which things ________ to the teller of
the story
The author or a short story decides __________ the story will be told
and what the character(s) will _________.
There are three different points of view that may be used in a short
story.
1. _____________________:
The protagonist tells his or her own story ________________ to
the reader. This point of view tells us what the __________
character thinks and feels, and no one else. The word “___” is
usually used. It is told from “_____________” the events. The
narrator only knows his or her own _______________ and can
only guess on how other characters in the story __________ or
___________.
2. ___________________________________________:
The narrator refers to the main character as “____” or “_____”
and shows us only what ______ character thinks or feels- but it is
told from someone ________________ of the story looking in.
3. ________________________________________
This is often referred to as a “_______________” narrator. It tells
us the minds of _________________ or ______ of the characters.
This narrator is “_____________________.” “_____” or “_______”
is usually used to tell the story.
CONFLICT
Definition: Active opposition which, in fiction, can occur
between characters, ideas or values, or ways of life. It’s the
“soul of fiction.”
There are two types of conflict:
1. External- A struggle with a force outside of one’s self. Examples
are another person, animals or the environment.
2. Internal- A struggle within one’s self. Examples are making a
decision, overcoming pain, controlling their temper, or resisting
an urge.
There are five kinds of conflict:
1. Human vs. human
2. Human vs. himself/herself
3. Human vs. society
4. Human vs. nature
5. Human vs. supernatural
To figure out what a story means, we can trace the conflict to decide
where it begins, how it develops and where it is resolved to
understand the plot. We can look at the protagonist’s response to
conflict to understand the main character’s values, personality and
philosophy of life.
The outcome of the conflict should also be considered. Whether the
ending is happy or unhappy can help us understand the conflict and
the meaning of the story as a whole.
CONFLICT
Definition: Active _____________ which, in fiction, can
occur between characters, ideas or values, or ways of life.
It’s the “______________________.”
There are two types of conflict:
1. _________________- A struggle with a force _____________
of one’s self. Examples are another person, animals or the
environment.
2. _________________- A struggle _______________ one’s self.
Examples are making a decision, overcoming pain, controlling
their temper, or resisting an urge.
There are five kinds of conflict:
1. Human vs. _____________________________
2. Human vs. _____________________________
3. Human vs. _____________________________
4. Human vs. _____________________________
5. Human vs. _____________________________
To figure out what a story means, we can trace the _____________
to decide where it begins, how it develops and where it is resolved to
understand the plot. We can look at the ____________________’s
response to conflict to understand the main character’s values,
personality and philosophy of life.
The __________________ of the conflict should also be considered.
Whether the ending is ______________ or _______________ can
help us understand the conflict and the meaning of the story as a
whole.
IRONY & SYMBOL
Looking for irony and/or symbols in a story will help you understand
the story’s meaning.
Irony- a form of humor where there is either an unusual or
unexpected connection between things or events or when the
opposite of what you expect happens
There are three kinds of irony:
1. Verbal Irony- the contrast between what is said and what is
meant.
2. Dramatic Irony- the contrast between what a character thinks
is true and what the readers know to be true. This can create
suspense because when the readers know something a
character doesn’t, it makes us want to keep reading to see
what happens when the truth is uncovered.
3. Situational Irony- the contrast between what happens and what
is expected.
Symbol- a person, thing or act that stands for something else in a
way that makes it important to the whole story
A character, action, setting, or object can represent something else in
the story. Most often, the symbol in a story is an object that stands
for its owner’s character or situation or both.
A symbol is usually recognizable by how much it is mentioned in the
story. Objects that are supposed to be symbols will be described in
detail, will often be used in the title, will be referred to a lot, or
attention will be drawn to them at the beginning or ending of the
story. When we recognize a symbol and understand its meaning we
can understand what the writer wants us to know about the story.
IRONY & SYMBOL
Looking for _____________ and/or __________________ in a story
will help you understand the story’s meaning.
Irony- a form of ________________where there is either an unusual
or unexpected connection between things or events or when the
opposite of what you expect happens
There are three kinds of irony:
1. _______________________________________________- the
contrast between what is said and what is meant.
2. _____________________________________- the contrast
between what a character thinks is true and what the readers
know to be true. This can create suspense because when the
readers know something a character doesn’t, it makes us want
to keep reading to see what happens when the truth is
uncovered.
3. ____________________________________________- the
contrast between what happens and what is expected.
Symbol- a person, thing or act that _____________ for something
else in a way that makes it important to the whole story
A character, action, setting, or object can ____________ something
else in the story. Most often, the symbol in a story is an
_________________ that stands for its owner’s character or situation
or both.
A __________________ is usually recognizable by how much it is
mentioned in the story. Objects that are supposed to be symbols will
be ___________________ in detail, will often be used in the
______________, will be referred to a _____________, or attention
will be drawn to them at the _____________ or ending of the story.
When we recognize a symbol and understand its meaning we can
understand what the writer wants us to know about the story.