The Short Story
Elements &
Plot Structure
The Short Story
Definition
• A short story is a form of short fictional narrative prose, tending to be
more concise than longer works of fiction. The term most often refers to a
work of fiction no longer than 20,000 words and no shorter than 1,000.
•Short stories tend to be less complex than novels, focusing on only one
incident, with a single plot, a single setting, a limited number of
characters, and covering a short period of time.
•Short stories have their origins in narrative storytelling and prose
anecdote, a swiftly-sketched situation that comes rapidly to its point.
•Of course, as with any art form, the exact characteristics of a short story
will vary by author.
The Short Story
Origins
Short stories date back to the story-telling traditions which produced such notable tales as
Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. Short sections of these tales focused on individual narratives that
could be told at one sitting. The overall arch of the story would only emerge through the telling
of multiple sections of the tale.
Fables, which tend to be folk tales with an explicitly expressed moral, were said by the Greek
historian Herodotus to have been invented by a Greek slave named Aesop in the 6th century
BCE (although other times and nationalities are also given for Aesop). These ancient fables are
known today as Aesop's Fables.
The other ancient form of short story, anecdotes, were popular during the years of the Roman
Empire. Anecdotes functioned as a sort of parable, a brief realistic narration that embodies a
point. Many of the surviving Roman anecdotes were later collected in the Gesta Romanorum in
the 13th or 14th century. Anecdotes remained popular in Europe well into the 18th century, when
the fictional anecdotal letters of Sir Roger de Coverley were published.
The Short Story
Origins
In Europe, the oral story-telling tradition began to develop into written stories in the early 14th
century, most notably with Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and Giovanni Boccaccio's
Decameron. Both of these books are composed of individual short stories (which range from
farce or humorous anecdotes to well-crafted literary fictions) set within a larger narrative story
(a frame story), although the frame tale device was not adopted by all writers. At the end of
the 16th century, some of the most popular short stories in Europe were the darkly tragic
"novella" of Matteo Bandello (especially in their French translation). During the Renaissance,
the term novella was used when referring to short stories.
The mid 17th century in France saw the development of a refined short novel, the "nouvelle", by
such authors as Madame de Lafayette. In the 1690s, traditional fairy tales began to be
published (one of the most famous collections was by Charles Perrault). The appearance of
Antoine Galland's first modern translation of the Thousand and One Nights (or Arabian Nights
from 1704; another translation appeared in 1710–12) would have an enormous influence on the
18th century European short stories of Voltaire, Diderot and others.
Elements
Model
Obviously, subject matter for
short stories over the years has
varied wildly, ranging from the
mundane to the fantastic.
Today, we will look at a
familiar story, “Little Red
Riding Hood,” to analyze it for
elements of the short story.
Elements
Setting
Setting is the time and place of a
story’s action, and includes ideas,
customs, values, and beliefs.
“Little Red Riding Hood” takes
place in the woods a long time
ago.
Elements
Characters
Characters are the actors in a
story’s plot. They can be people,
animals, ghosts, mythological
creatures, or anything else within
the author’s imagination.
The PROTAGONIST is the main
character. The ANTAGONIST is in
conflict with the main character.
Not all stories have protagonists.
The characters in the story are
Little Red Riding Hood, the Big
Bad Wolf, the Grandmother, and
the woodsman. Little Red Riding
Hood is the protagonist. The Big
Bad Wolf is the antagonist.
Elements
Point of View
Point of view refers to the relationship
of the NARRATOR, or storyteller, of the
story. In FIRST-PERSON point of view,
the narrator is a character, and is
referred to using personal pronouns,
including, “I.” In THIRD-PERSON point
of view, the narrator reveals thoughts
of only one character, referring to that
character using pronouns like, “he” or
“she.” In THIRD-PERSON OMNISCIENT
point of view, the narrator knows
everything about the story’s events
and reveals the thoughts of all the
story’s characters.
“Little Red Riding Hood” is
traditionally told from the THIRDPERSON OMNISCIENT point of view:
the narrator explains what Little Red
Riding Hood is doing as well as what is
happening to her and her
grandmother.
Elements
Theme
Theme is the central idea or message of
a story, often a perception about life or
human nature. STATED themes are
directly presented in a story. IMPLIED
themes must be inferred by considering
all the elements of a story and asking
what message about life is conveyed.
The theme of “Little Red Riding Hood”
is IMPLIED. While the narrator does
not directly state a message, the
reader can infer it: be suspicious of
things and people that do not appear
the way they should.
Elements
Plot
Plot is the sequence of events in a
story. Each event causes or leads to the
next. Plot is often created through
CONFLICT, a struggle between
opposing forces. An EXTERNAL conflict
is one between a character and an
outside force, such as another
character, nature, society, fate, etc.
An INTERNAL conflict takes place
within the mind of a character who is
torn between opposing feelings or
different courses of action.
In “Little Red Riding Hood,” the
conflict is EXTERNAL—Little Red
Riding Hood versus The Big Bad Wolf.
Short Story Triangle
Most plots develop in five stages, and can be
expressed in the form of a triangle.
The chart, first developed in 1863 by Gustav
Freytag and consequently also known as “Freytag’s
Triangle,” is a diagram of plot structure which
shows complication and emotional tension rising
like one side of a pyramid toward its apex, which
represents the climax of action.
Once the climax is over, the descending side of the pyramid depicts the
decrease in tension and complication as the work reaches its conclusion
and denouement.
Freytag designed the chart for discussing tragedy, but it can be applied to
many kinds of fiction.
Short Story Triangle
Most plots develop
in five stages:
1. EXPOSITION
introduces the story’s
characters, setting,
and conflict.
Exposition
Short Story Triangle
Most plots develop
in five stages:
2. RISING ACTION
occurs as complications,
twists, or intensifications
of the conflict occur
Exposition
Rising Action
Short Story Triangle
Climax
Most plots develop
in five stages:
3. CLIMAX
is the emotional high
point of the story.
Exposition
Rising Action
Short Story Triangle
Climax
Most plots develop
in five stages:
Falling Action
4. FALLING ACTION
is the logical result of
the climax.
Exposition
Rising Action
Short Story Triangle
Climax
Most plots develop
in five stages:
Falling Action
5. RESOLUTION
presents the final
outcome of the story.
Exposition
Rising Action
Resolution
Short Story Triangle
Climax
Model: “Little Red
Riding Hood”
Falling Action
Little Red Riding Hood
has prepared a basket
of goodies for her
grandmother. She
begins walking
through dangerous
woods to deliver the
basket.
Exposition
Rising Action
Resolution
Short Story Triangle
Climax
Model: “Little Red
Riding Hood”
Little Red Riding Hood
has prepared a basket
of goodies for her
grandmother. She
begins walking
through dangerous
woods to deliver the
basket.
Exposition
Falling Action
The Big Bad Wolf
spots Little Red
walking in the
woods and asks her
where she’s going
with the basket of
treats.
Rising Action
Resolution
Short Story Triangle
Climax
Model: “Little Red
Riding Hood”
Little Red Riding Hood
has prepared a basket
of goodies for her
grandmother. She
begins walking
through dangerous
woods to deliver the
basket.
Exposition
Falling Action
The Big Bad Wolf
spots Little Red
walking in the
woods and asks her
where she’s going
with the basket of
treats.
The Wolf runs to
the grandmother’s
house , eats her,
puts on her bonnet,
glasses, and night
gown, and climbs
into her bed.
Rising Action
Resolution
Short Story Triangle
Model: “Little Red
Riding Hood”
Little Red Riding Hood
has prepared a basket
of goodies for her
grandmother. She
begins walking
through dangerous
woods to deliver the
basket.
Exposition
The Big Bad Wolf
spots Little Red
walking in the
woods and asks her
where she’s going
with the basket of
treats.
Climax
Little Red arrives at
her grandmother’s
house and sits on a
stool at the
disguised wolf’s
bedside.
Falling Action
The Wolf runs to
the grandmother’s
house , eats her,
puts on her bonnet,
glasses, and night
gown, and climbs
into her bed.
Rising Action
Resolution
Short Story Triangle
Model: “Little Red
Riding Hood”
Little Red Riding Hood
has prepared a basket
of goodies for her
grandmother. She
begins walking
through dangerous
woods to deliver the
basket.
Exposition
The Big Bad Wolf
spots Little Red
walking in the
woods and asks her
where she’s going
with the basket of
treats.
Climax
Little Red arrives at
her grandmother’s
house and sits on a
stool at the
disguised wolf’s
bedside.
The Wolf runs to
the grandmother’s
house , eats her,
puts on her bonnet,
glasses, and night
gown, and climbs
into her bed.
Falling Action
Little Red
questions all the
things that appear
different about her
“grandmother.”
Rising Action
Resolution
Short Story Triangle
Model: “Little Red
Riding Hood”
Little Red Riding Hood
has prepared a basket
of goodies for her
grandmother. She
begins walking
through dangerous
woods to deliver the
basket.
Exposition
The Big Bad Wolf
spots Little Red
walking in the
woods and asks her
where she’s going
with the basket of
treats.
Climax
Little Red arrives at
her grandmother’s
house and sits on a
stool at the
disguised wolf’s
bedside.
The Wolf runs to
the grandmother’s
house , eats her,
puts on her bonnet,
glasses, and night
gown, and climbs
into her bed.
Little Red comments on the Wolf’s
nose, eyes, ears, and teeth, and he
responds by eating her in one gulp.
Falling Action
Little Red
questions all the
things that appear
different about her
“grandmother.”
Rising Action
Resolution
Short Story Triangle
Model: “Little Red
Riding Hood”
Little Red Riding Hood
has prepared a basket
of goodies for her
grandmother. She
begins walking
through dangerous
woods to deliver the
basket.
Exposition
The Big Bad Wolf
spots Little Red
walking in the
woods and asks her
where she’s going
with the basket of
treats.
Climax
Little Red arrives at
her grandmother’s
house and sits on a
stool at the
disguised wolf’s
bedside.
The Wolf runs to
the grandmother’s
house , eats her,
puts on her bonnet,
glasses, and night
gown, and climbs
into her bed.
Little Red comments on the Wolf’s
nose, eyes, ears, and teeth, and he
responds by eating her in one gulp.
Falling Action
Little Red
questions all the
things that appear
different about her
“grandmother.”
Rising Action
The Woodsman
arrives on the
scene to discover
the wolf dressed as
the grandmother,
and quickly
surmises what has
transpired in the
woman’s cottage.
Resolution
Short Story Triangle
Model: “Little Red
Riding Hood”
Little Red Riding Hood
has prepared a basket
of goodies for her
grandmother. She
begins walking
through dangerous
woods to deliver the
basket.
Exposition
The Big Bad Wolf
spots Little Red
walking in the
woods and asks her
where she’s going
with the basket of
treats.
Climax
Little Red arrives at
her grandmother’s
house and sits on a
stool at the
disguised wolf’s
bedside.
The Wolf runs to
the grandmother’s
house , eats her,
puts on her bonnet,
glasses, and night
gown, and climbs
into her bed.
Little Red comments on the Wolf’s
nose, eyes, ears, and teeth, and he
responds by eating her in one gulp.
Falling Action
Little Red
questions all the
things that appear
different about her
“grandmother.”
Rising Action
The Woodsman
arrives on the
scene to discover
the wolf dressed as
the grandmother,
and quickly
surmises what has
transpired in the
woman’s cottage.
The Woodsman kills the
wolf and out step the
Grandmother and Little
Red, happy and safe.
Resolution
Active Reading Strategies
The Short Story
PREDICT
Make educated guesses about what will
happen next by combining clues in the story
with what you already know. Predicting
helps you anticipate events and stay alert
to the less obvious parts of a story.
Say to yourself…
• I think the title might mean…
• I think this character is going to…
• Now I think he or she will…
• My first prediction doesn’t match what I read. Now I
think…
Active Reading Strategies
The Short Story
CONNECT
Draw parallels between people, places, and
events in the story and the people, places,
and events in your life.
Ask yourself…
• How would the main character act in my situation?
• How would I act in the main character’s situation?
• When have I felt the same way as the character?
• What parts of my life does this remind me of?
• What other stories does this remind me of?
Active Reading Strategies
The Short Story
QUESTION
Ask yourself questions to help you clarify
the story as you go along.
Ask yourself…
• Do I understand what I’ve read so far?
• Why did the character say that?
• What’s going on here?
• What does this mean?
Active Reading Strategies
The Short Story
VISUALIZE
In your mind, form pictures of what is
happening in the story. Pay attention to
the details the writer gives you, and make
them a part of your reading experience.
Ask yourself…
• How does this scene, character, or object look?
• Who is in this scene?
• Where are the characters in relation to one another and
to their surroundings?
Active Reading Strategies
The Short Story
EVALUATE
Form opinions and make judgments about
the story while you are reading—not just
after you have finished.
Ask yourself…
• Does this turn of events make sense?
• Is this character believable?
• What is particularly effective about this writer’s style?
• Do I agree with this idea?
Active Reading Strategies
The Short Story
REVIEW
Pause every page or two to think about
your reading. Summarize events in the
story or rephrase difficult language to help
you understand and remember what
you’ve read.
Say to yourself…
• So far, …
• In other words…
Active Reading Strategies
The Short Story
RESPOND
Respond while you are reading. React to
different parts of the story.
Say to yourself…
• I like this character because…
• I’d like to ask the writer why…
• I wish I could visit this place because…