WHAT IS A SHORT STORY?
A story can either be written in the form of a novel or a short story. As the name
indicates, the short story is shorter than the novel.
Title: the name of the story.
Author: the writer of the story.
Genre: the type of story, e.g.
Romance
Comedy
Mystery
Fable
Thriller
Drama
Fantasy
Folklore, etc.
Suspense
Historical drama/romance
Children’s story
Setting: This refers to both (a) the place where the action takes place, and
(b) the time or timeframe in which it takes place.
Characters: who/what are the people who are part of the action?
Here we distinguish between the main character – the one who is central to the
action. This could be:
the protagonist – the one who changes, or acts based on the problem faced and
the antagonist – the one causing the change/action in the protagonist.
Plot: a story has a beginning and an end. In between, there is action, caused by
the issue/problem facing the main character.
The plot/action builds up, until the climax is reached, followed by the resolution
(denouement).
Climax: this is the crisis or turning point of the story and indicates the moment the
main character reaches his/her goal, or the characters confront each other, or a
secret/mystery is revealed.
Denouement (Resolutions): this French word means ‘untying’. Everything in the
story now slows down and ends, the conflict is solved, or the main character’s wish
is fulfilled.
Theme: this can be described as the ‘topic’, main idea or lesson to be learnt from the
story. If you are asked what the story is about and you summarise it in one sentence,
that is the theme.