The Short Story
“No sooner were the ceremonies of the wedding over, but the stepmother began to show herself in her true
colors. She could not bear the good qualities of this pretty girl, and the less because they made her own
daughters appear the more odious. She employed her in the meanest work of the house. She scoured the
dishes, tables, etc., and cleaned madam's chamber, and those of misses, her daughters. She slept in a sorry
garret, on a wretched straw bed, while her sisters slept in fine rooms, with floors all inlaid, on beds of the
very newest fashion, and where they had looking glasses so large that they could see themselves at their full
length from head to foot.”
Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper.
1. This PLOT DIAGRAM shows how the main events in a short story are organized into a plot.
2. Analysis of the fairy-tale: “Cinderella”

Exposition: Cinderella lives unhappily with her step-mother and two step sisters; an invitation
to a ball at the palace arrives.

Rising Action: The step sisters prepare to go to the ball; a fairy godmother appears and
gives Cinderella a gown to wear to the ball and coach and footmen to take her there; she
goes to the ball and dances with the prince; she leaves at midnight, losing a slipper on the
steps; the prince finds the slipper and agrees to marry the woman whom it fits.

Climax: The prince visits the home of Cinderella; the two sisters try to fit in to the slipper, but
Cinderella appears is discovered to be the wearer of the slipper.


Falling Action: Cinderella and the Prince prepare to marry.

Resolution: They live happily ever after.
TASK – with a partner:
1. Analysis a well-known fairy-tale in the same way. Plot the basic details of the story under the
same headings as the Cinderella example.
2. Can you think of any fairy take that does not have a resolution?
It’s All in the Detail
Add a descriptive adjective to each highlighted noun to make
the sentence more interesting! Rewrite each sentence with
your new adjective. Change any other elements you like, but be
sure the essential meaning stays the same. Be sure to change
the grammar if needed to suit your new sentence.
1. The artist made a painting.
The talented artist created an inspiring painting.____________
2. The boy baked a cake.
____________________________________________________
3. The dad drove a car.
____________________________________________________
4. The girl walked through the park.
___________________________________________________
5. The women rode a bike.
___________________________________________________
6. The boy read a book.
___________________________________________________
7. The girls went to see a movie.
___________________________________________________