SHORT STORY UNIT
Elements of Fiction and
Literary Analysis
What is a short story?
Have you ever
read a short
story?
What are the
parts of a short
story?
If so,
which
one?
WHAT IS A SHORT STORY?
Short stories usually lack detail.
 Short stories are brief.
 Short stories use P.A.C.T.S. to establish the
narrative.
 The short stories that we are going to read are
fictional

WHAT IS FICTION?

Fiction is a story that is not true. It is not based
on any real facts.

Remember….Fiction= Fake
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Some examples of fiction may include:
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Novels
Short Stories
Video Games
Plays
Movies
Comics
Television (non- reality)
P.A.C.T.S.
Short stories use P.A.C.T.S to build the
narrative. P.A.C.T.S. is an acronym for the
elements of fiction.
 Although short stories may use all of the aspects
of P.A.C.T.S, the author may choose to focus on
any one of these elements:
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Plot
Atmosphere/Mood
Characterization
Theme
Setting
PLOT
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The plot is essentially what happens throughout the story.
The events of the plot graph can be categorized into 6 main
parts:
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Exposition/Introduction
Inciting Incident
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution
SHORT STORY PLOT GRAPH
Climax
Rising
Action
Falling
Action
Resolution
Exposition/
Introduction
Inciting
Incident
PLOT GRAPH
1.
Exposition/Introduction- The beginning of
the narrative. It introduces the characters,
setting, and it may introduce the conflict.
2.
Inciting incident-This is the initial problem in
the narrative that causes the conflict or action
to occur.
3.
Rising Action- The rising action is the main
part of the story. It builds the reader’s suspense
through a series of crisis and conflict.
PLOT GRAPH
4.
Climax- This is the turning point of the
narrative. This is the part in the plot where the
conflict escalates to the point of no return.
5.
Falling Action- This is the part of the
narrative when the conflict begins resolution.
6.
Resolution- The conflict is resolved and loose
odds and ends are tied up. This is the conclusion
of the story.
THE LION KING
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
Watch this trailer for the movie and fill in your
plot diagram
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0fReuRs890
ATMOSPHERE/MOOD
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The atmosphere or mood is the emotions that are
presented in the narrative. The setting helps to
establish the atmosphere or mood in the story.
Some examples of atmosphere or mood include:
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Tense
Relaxed
Mysterious
Dark
Anxiousness
Bright/ Happy
SETTING
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The setting informs the reader of the time and
place that the events of the story take place.
To explore the setting in a narrative, look for the
following details:
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Room, place, or location
Decoration that is around
What it looks like
Time of day- morning, evening, night, sunrise, etc.
Day, month, year, or decade
Historical time period, geography, or culture
Mood/Atmosphere – remember yesterday’s note?
SETTING
Watch the following video, and fill out your
organizer to explore the elements of setting.
 First 10 mins of CSI or Law and Order or other
police drama.
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CHARACTERIZATION
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Protagonist- The protagonist is the main
character in the story. The plot revolves around
the protagonist.
Antagonist- The antagonist is the person or
force that challenges or confronts the protagonist.
The antagonist is against the protagonist.
CHARACTERIZATION
Watch this video clip from Harry Potter.
 List the characteristics of both Harry Potter and
Lord Voldemort in your organizer.

What do you notice about each character? How
are they similar? How are they different?
 Look at their voices, powers, appearance, and
body language.
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Watch this video clip of Spiderman and Venom.
 List the characteristics of both Spiderman and
Venom in your organizer.
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CHARACTERIZATION
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Major Characters- Major characters are
characters that have a primary role in the
narrative. The protagonist and antagonist are
almost always major characters.
Minor Characters- Minor characters are
characters that support the protagonist and
antagonist. They play a smaller role in the
narrative.
CHARACTERIZATION

Round Characters –
a character that has many qualities to their
personality.
 These characters grow, evolve, or change throughout
the story.
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Flat Characters –
a character that has limited qualities to their
personality
 These characters stay the same throughout a story
without much of a change
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CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
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An archetype is an accurate stereotype that seems
to repeat itself from text to text (movie to movie, tv
show to tv show). This repetition can be called a
pattern. The characters in a narrative can be groups
into 5 standard archetypes:
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The clown- the funny, silly, comedic one
The wise one- the older, experienced one
The hero- the courageous leader
The villain- the evil, mischievous character
The seducer/temptress- the romantic, charismatic one
THEME
The theme is the meaning or message of a story
 The writer tries to present an idea about the
main subject.
 Ex: Titanic – Love is everlasting
 Ex: Hunger Games – Appearances can be
deceiving
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