Short Stories
SHORT STORY ELEMENTS
A short story is a fairly brief work of fiction. Fiction, as you know, is prose writing about imagined events and
characters. A short story presents characters in a struggle or complication, which has a definite outcome. Novels are
another example of fictional prose and are much longer than short stories. Some short stories, however, can be quite
long. It may range in length from 500 words up to 15-20,000 words. The short story has a definite construction or
unity rather than the freedom of a sketch or a tale.
The essential elements of a short story are characters, setting, plot, theme, and point of view.
Character A character is a person, or sometimes even an animal, who takes part in the action of a short story. They
may be described by the author mainly by conversation, indirectly or directly by action. By whatever method they
are introduced, characters at once must be convincing to the reader since the author does not have a great deal of
time to work with.
Protagonist- the major or central character
Antagonist- the character’s opponent, against whom the protagonist contends or struggles
Setting The setting of a short story is the time and place in which happens. Setting furnishes the background for a
story. It includes the place, the time, and the mood of a story. Authors often use descriptions of landscape,
scenery, buildings, seasons or weather to provide a strong sense of setting.
Plot The plot consists of a carefully chosen series of events and character actions that relate to the central conflict.
Conflict- the struggle or tension that sets the plot of the story in motion; it builds suspense or mystery and arouses
expectations for events to follow.
Rising Action- develops and intensifies the conflict
Climax- plot reaches its greatest emotional intensity; turning point of story
Falling Action- the tension subsides and the plot moves towards conclusion
Conclusion/Denouement- the outcome or settling of the conflict
Foreshadowing- the presentation of information in a work in such a way that later events are prepared for.
Theme The theme is the central belief or idea behind the story, which the author intends to develop through the
entire story; it is neither obvious nor hidden. It brings together the characters, setting and incidents so as not to
destroy the unified impression.
Point of View The vantage point from which the story is being told.
First Person- The narrative is portrayed by what is known and seen through a single character. That focal character
addresses the reader directly.
Character refers to themself as “I” in the story and addresses the reader as “you.”
Third Person- An outside person or narrator relates the story and can direct the reader’s attention to the inner
thoughts of any of the characters and controls the sources of information.
Vocabulary
This is the first group of vocabulary words to study. Create study cards for them and be prepared for a test the day
after you receive this list.
___ 1. abstract (n) a statement summarizing the important points of a given text
(adj) theoretical; not applied or practical. Considered in theory, rather than with
reference to a particular instance or example.
___ 2. belittle (v) to represent or speak of as small or unimportant; to depreciate or disparage; to
cause to seem less or little
___ 3. censure (n) an expression of blame or disapproval
(v) to express severe criticism or disapproval
___ 4. deference (n) submission or courteous yielding to the opinion, wishes, or judgment of
another (v) to comply with or submit to the opinion or decision of another
___ 5. eccentric (adj) departing or deviating from the established norm, model, or rule; an odd or
erratic person or thing
___ 6. facilitate (v) to free from difficulties or obstacles; to make easier; to aid or assist
___ 7. guile (n) insidious, treacherous cunning; craftiness; slyness; trickery
___ 8. heed (v) to pay attention to; to listen to and consider
___ 9. inadvertent (adj) accidental; unintentional; done by mistake or through lack of care and
attention
___ 10. mar (v) to damage or deface; to spoil the quality of; to injure
marred (adj) damaged, defaced, spoiled, injured
___ 11. parsimony (n) unusual or excessive frugality; extreme economy; stinginess
___ 12. recalcitrant (adj) stubbornly resistant to authority, domination, or guidance; unruly
___ 13. sage (n) a person, usually elderly, who is venerated for wisdom, experience, and
judgment (adj) having, proceeding from, or showing wisdom and calm judgment; judicious; wise
sagacious (adj) possessing or showing sound judgment and keen perception; wise
___ 14. tangible (adj) discernible to the touch; capable of being touched
visible and appraisable; corporeal
capable of being exactly comprehended
that which can be treated as a fact; real; concrete
___ 15. verbose (adj) using or containing an excessive number of words; wordy; talkative
Elements of a Short Story/Active Reading Strategies
The seven elements of a short story (Briefly describe)
each of them.
a. character(s)
b. setting
c. conflict
d. plot
e. resolution
f. tone/mood
g. point of view
The six active reading strategies? (Briefly describe)
a. preview
b. connect
c. predict
d. question
e. clarify
f. summarize
Freytag’s Pyramid
One way to use active reading strategies is to record information in a chart while you read. Use
the chart and active reading strategies to analyze a short story. You may copy this chart in your
notes and use it for other selections.
Title:_________________________________Genre:_________________________________________
1.Character(s): Who or what
is the story about?
2. Setting: place/time,
environment, atmosphere of
the story
3. Conflict: What is the main
problem in the story?
4. Plot: What is happening in
the story? What is the story
about? This happened, then
this happened, and so on.
5.Resolution: How and when
was the conflict resolved?
What is a good or bad
outcome?
6. Tone/Mood: What was the
author’s attitude towards the
subject? What kind of
emotion or feeling do you get
after reading the story?
7.Point of View: Who is telling
or narrating the story? Is one
of the characters acting as a
narrator (first person), or is it
as if someone is looking at
them and telling what is going
on (third person)?
2003abcteach.com
Directions: Answer the following questions regarding the short story
elements of your selection. Answer in complete sentences.
Tip: When answering direct questions, one way to answer in complete
sentences and guide you to stay on topic is to restate part of the question.
1. How did the setting influence the conflict?
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2. Had the setting been different, would the outcome of the conflict
have changed? Explain.
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______________________________________________________
3. How was the conflict resolved?
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4. Did the character’s traits influence his/her reaction to the conflict?
Explain.
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5. What were the details that you as a reader connected to, and how?
Explain.
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______________________________________________________
2003abcteach.com
Short Story Literary Terms to Know!
1st person point of view: story is told by one of the characters who uses pronount "I" or "we" and
who participates in much of the action
3rd person limited point of view: events are related through the eyes of one character
3rd person objective point of view: events related through the eyes of objective observer who
offers no opinions or interpretations of charcters' thoughts
3rd person ominiscient point of view: narrator is all knowing; can see into the minds of all
characters
allusion: an indirect reference to a historical or literary person, place, thing, or event which it is assumed
the reader is familiar
antagonist: the chief opponent of the main character
characterization (direct): information provided by narrator about character(s)
characterization (indirect): implied from what others say about the character
characters: person, animal, etc. depicted in a narrative or dramatic work
climax: moment when interest and emotional intensity reach their highest point
conflict: struggle between opposing forces which is the basis of the plot in the story
connotation: emotional response evoked by a word; suggest word meaning
denotation: literal or dictionary meaning of a word
denouement: shows the results of the major events and ties up loose ends
dialogue: written conversation between two or more persons
exposition: provides background information necesary to understand teh characters and their actions.
fiction: narrative that springs from the imagination of the writer
flashback: returning to an event or something that was said or done prior to the beginning of the story
foil: a character who provides a striking contrast to another character
foreshadowing: hints or clues as to events that are to occur in the story
genre: a type of literature
imagery: use of the senses to create images
internal conflict: struggle within a character
irony: contrast in what is expected and what actually happens
metaphor: an implied ccomparison between two things that have something in common
mood: feeling or atmosphere the writer creates for the reader; how the story makes the reader feel
nonfiction: prose writing about real people, places, and/or events
personification: giving inanimate objects human characteristics
plot: design and ordering of events in a narrative or dramatic work
point of view: who is telling the story
prose: type of language not organized according to a regular metrical principle or pattern
protagonist: the main character of a story
resolution: same as falling action or denouement
rising action: part of the plot in which complications develop and the conflict intensifies, bulding up to
the climax of the story
setting: time and/or place of a story
short story: a work of fiction that can be read in one sitting
simile: a comparison between two things that are unlike but which have somthing in common. A simile
uses "like" or "as" in the comparison
style: way in which a piece of literature is written
symbol: a person, place, or object that represents something beyond itself
theme: central idea or message in a work of literature
tone: attitude a writer takes towards his/her subject
voice: a writer's unique use of language that allows the reader to see his/her personality through the
writer's words
This is the second group of vocabulary words to study. Create study cards for them and be prepared for a test the
day after you receive this list.
___ 1. advocate (v) to speak in favor of; recommend; support
(n) a person who argues for a cause; a supporter or defender
___ 2. comply (v) to act in accordance with a command, request, rule, wish, or the like.
Used with with
___ 3. deride (v) to speak of or treat with contemptuous mirth; to scoff at
derision (n) scoffing; ridicule; an object of ridicule; a laughingstock
derisive (adj) mocking, scoffing
___ 4. divert (v) to turn aside from a course or direction; to deflect; to distract; to amuse or
entertain
___ 5. euphony (n) agreeable sound, especially in the phonetic quality of words
euphonious (adj) agreeable to the ear
___ 6. infamy (n) evil fame or reputation
infamous (adj) notorious; having a bad reputation; detestable; loathsome
___ 7. philanthropy (n) the effort or inclination to increase the well-being of humankind, as by
charitable aid or donations; love of mankind in general; actions or institutions
designed to promote human welfare
___ 8. prodigious (adj) impressively great in size, force, or extent; enormous
___ 9. relegate (v) to send or consign, especially to an obscure place, position, or condition; to
assign to a particular class or category
___ 10. solicit (v) to seek to obtain by persuasion, entreaty, or formal application; to petition (a
person) persistently; entreat; importune
___ 11. tentative (adj) of an experimental nature; provisional; uncertain
___ 12. zealous (adj) eager; filled with or motivated by zeal; ardent; enthusiastic (with the
implication that the emotions are unbridled, verging on the fanatic)
Title
“The Most
Dangerous
Game”
“Sonata for a
Harp and a
Bicycle”
“The Gift of
the Magi”
“Rules of the
Game”
“The
Invalid’s
Story”
“The Cask of
Amontillado”
“The
Interlopers”
“The
Necklace”
“Uncle
Marcos”
“The Scarlet
Ibis”
Author
Characters Setting
Voice
Conflict
Theme
Plot