Characterization and
Elements of a
Short Story
by Mr.Mrtz
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Do now: what is figurative language?
In Class Act-s:
1-Seventh Grade by Gary Soto (Listening)
2-Vocabulary Power (Review & Quiz)
3-Characterization (Direct-Indirect)
4-Short story
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Reading Comprehension about “Seventh Grade” by Gary Soto
Please answer the following questions with complete sentences. Make sure that your answers are
clear and complete.
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1. What does Michael do in the story to try to impress girls? Do
you think his efforts are effective? Why or why not? Explain your
answer.
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2. What does Victor do in the story to try to impress Teresa? Do
you think his efforts are effective? Why or why not? Explain your
answer.
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3. The French teacher, Mr. Bueller, realizes that Victor is faking
his knowledge of French. What event from Mr. Bueller’s past that
leads him to keep the truth about Victor’s claim to himself. What
does this action of Mr. Bueller’s tell you about him as a person and
as a teacher?
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4. Victor is finally able to impress Teresa. Do you think it matters
that this impression is based on something that isn’t true? Why or
why not? Explain your answer.
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5. What advice would you give Victor about the way he
tries to impress Teresa?
• Bustled, conviction,
uncertainly,
sheepishly, elective,
propelled,
scowl,waddle down,
rippled, wobbly
• When Mr. Bueller asked if anyone knew French, Victor’s
hand shot up confidently; but when he is asked to speak it,
he looks at the teacher sheepishly.
• Victor told himself with conviction that Teresa will be his
girl this year, but deep down he was not sure.
• Spanish was an elective class; on the other hand, math was
required.
• Michael would scowl to impress girls, not because he was
angry.
• I watch fat people waddle down the street, it boosts my
self esteem.
• I was sitting on a wobbly plastic chair.
Characterization
It is the process that authors use to
develop or describe a character in a
story.
It can be:
Direct: Author describes directly what the
character is like.
Indirect characterization. Author uses
different methods of characterization.
ex:
S.T.E.A.L
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Speech
What does the character say? How does the character speak?
Thoughts
What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and
feelings?
Effect on others toward the character.
What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people?
How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?
What do other characters say or think about the character.
Actions
What does the character do? How does the character behave?
Looks
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What does the character look like? How does the character dress?
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__ “ I think it works” said Michael.
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__ Mr.Bueller shuffled through the papers
2 on his desk. He smiled and hummed as he
sat down to work.
__ On the way to his homeroom, Victor
3 tried to scowl. He felt foolish.
__ He felt awful. Teresa sat a few desks
4 away, no doubt thinking he was a fool.
__ Great rosebusheds of red bloomed on
5 Victor`s cheeks.
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“ I think it works” said Michael.
Mr.Bueller shuffled through the papers
on his desk. He smiled and hummed as he
sat down to work.
On the way to his homeroom, Victor
tried to scowl. He felt foolish.
He felt awful. Teresa sat a few desks
away, no doubt thinking he was a fool.
Great rosebusheds of red bloomed on
Victor`s cheeks.
The people and animals in a story are
the characters. Authors give you clues
about what the characters are like.
Think about what the writer tells you
about the characters in a story. It will
help you understand the story better.
Some words that authors use to describe
characters directly are:
bossy
helpful
scared
brave
honest
happy
careful
kind
neat
friendly
proud
mean
hard-working
shy
nice
funny
wise
angry
Example:
Ben helped his mother in the store.
He put boxes on the shelf. He didn’t drop
any boxes. Mr. Kirk left some money at the
store. Ben followed him outside to give him
the money.
What words would you use to tell about Ben?
Example:
Tippy had a bone. A bigger dog
wanted it. Tippy was afraid. She stood
over her bone and barked. The big dog ran
away. Tippy was glad she hadn’t lost her
bone.
What words would you use to tell about Tippy?
Example:
Amy kept her library books together
on a shelf. She put away all her toys
carefully.
Amy was very…
upset
neat
mean
Example:
Joe’s friend Tom laughed a lot. He
always had a smile on his face. Tom was a
___________ person.
surprised
naughty
happy
Example:
Lisa’s little brother hid her skates
under the bed. He hid her favorite book.
He was being ________________.
calm
naughty
nice
Example:
When Erin needed help, Mother
always knew how to help. Erin’s mother was
very ________________.
wise
funny
angry
Example:
David read all the books about the
forest that he could find. He also talked
with the forest rangers to learn more.
David was ____________________.
gentle
curious
scared
Seventh Grade by Gary Soto
Characterization
Analyze a character. How do his/her words and actions influence the thoughts
and/or actions of another character? Who does the author describe in each
passage, Victor, Mr Bueller or Teresa?
• __________ chooses not to humiliate Victor, even though he knows Victor is
pretending to speak French. Based on these kind actions, Victor is relieved and considers
Mr. Bueller to be “a good guy.” Mr. Bueller’s kindness has a positive effect on Victor, who
becomes motivated to do well in French.
• __________ takes the opportunity of being in French class with Teresa to impress her
by trying to speak French. Even though Victor feels like a fool for not being able to
convince Mr. Bueller that he is speaking French, Teresa is impressed and begins a
conversation with him, leading the reader to anticipate Teresa likes Victor and wants to
spend time with him on a regular basis.
• __________ is a person that appears to be very conscientious student. Her scholarly
actions influenced the way Victor acted in school. She is good in math, she stays after
class to talk to the teachers, and she reads books during homeroom. She doesn’t seem to
worry about other kids calling her a “schoolgirl”. Victor is very interested in dating
Teresa, and so begins to emulate some of her scholarly tendencies. He sat quietly during
homeroom instead of squirming in his chair like the other kids. During lunchtime, he
pretended to be quietly reading his math book instead of playing around with the other
boys. Victor also took a risk by taking a French class, which was out of his comfort zone
in order to impress Teresa with his French language knowledge.
Short stories often contain structural and
character elements that should be familiar
to you.
These elements can be used as guides to
help you think about the actions, themes,
and contexts of the story.
• Plot
- exposition statement
• Setting
- rising action
• Characters
- conflict
- climax
• Point of view
- falling action
• Characterization
- resolution
• Theme
THEME
• The main idea of a literary work,
usually expressed as a generalization.
SETTING
•The time and place in which a
work of literature happens.
CHARACTERS
• The people (or actors) in the story.
POINT OF VIEW
• The story teller from whose
point of view the story is being
told, the narrator.
CHARACTERIZATION
The description of the
personalities of the
characters in the story
and the way in which an
author reveals their
personalities.
PLOT
• The sequence or order of events in a story. The
plot includes:
- Exposition Statement - The part of the plot
that tells how the story begins.
- Rising Action - The action in the story
leading up to the climax.
- Conflict - Struggles or problems between
opposing forces.
More PLOT
- Climax - The point of crisis in the plot. It
may be the reader’s point of highest interest.
- Falling action - The action in the story after
the climax is revealed.
- Resolution - The part of the plot that reveals
the final outcome.
PLOT DIAGRAM
Climax
Conflict
Exposition
Resolution
How to Write a Short Story
by Mr. Mrtz
Los Portales
2010
Definition of a Short Story
Tells about a single event
or experience
Fictional (not true)
500 to 15,000 words in
length
It has a beginning, middle,
and end
Creates an impression on
the reader
Elements of a Short
Story
Setting
Characterization
Plot
Conflict
Climax
Resolution
Theme
Point of view
Short Story Vocabulary
Setting:Tells the
reader where and
when the story
takes place.
Short Story Vocabulary
Characterization:
Creation of imaginary
people who appear to be
real to the reader. The
writer gives information
about the characters in
the story.
Short Story Vocabulary
Plot: A series of
events through
which the writer
reveals what is
happening, to
whom, and why.
Short Story Vocabulary
Conflict: Is a
problem in the
story that needs to
be resolved.
Short Story Vocabulary
Climax: When the
action comes to its
highest point of
conflict.
Short Story Vocabulary
Resolution: The
story’s action after
the climax until the
end of the story.
The “conclusion” of
the story.
Short Story Vocabulary
Theme: The
story’s main ideas.
The “message” the
writer intends to
communicate by
telling the story.
Short Story Vocabulary
Point of view: The
position of the
narrator of the
story and what the
writer sees from
that vantage point.
Setting
Characterization
Plot
Conflict
Climax
Resolution
Theme
Point of view
Great writers are able to use the
elements of the short story with
such precision that the reader is
caught up in the action of the story.
This is a mark of a good story and
our goal as a writer.
Now that we have identified and defined
the elements of a short story, let us use the
elements to write your own short story.
Due date: Friday, April 10- 2010
Bibliography
Dinneen, K. Elements of the Short Story. Retrieved Jun.
19, 2003, from Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute:
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1983/3/83.03.09.x.html
Five Elements of a Story. Retrieved Jun. 19, 2003,
http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-2277.html
Guevin, D. Short Story Elements. Retrieved Jun. 19, 2003,
http://www.uvm.edu/~dguevin/Elements.html