Short Story Notes
The Six Elements of a short story:
1. Plot: The order of events in which the story unfolds
2. Conflict: Underlying struggle shown through the action of the story
5 types of conflict
Man vs. self
Man vs. man
Man vs. nature
Man vs. Supernatural
Man vs. society
3. Charcter: people in the story
4. Setting: The time and place where the story takes place
5. Mood: The underlying feel of the story
6. Theme: The topic being explored in the story (author often expresses
his/her opinion)
Structure of a Short Story (copy the slide)
Exposition: Provides background information
The Introductory Paragraph contains information on mood, setting main
characters, and it begins the plot.
4 Types of Characters
 Flat: one sided, always static
 Round: well developed, show many character traits. May be static or
dynamic
 Static: character trait/s do not change over the course of the story
 Dynamic: character trait/s do change over the course of the story
3 Methods of characterization
 direct exposition: tells the reader what the character is like
 active presentation: reader draws his own conclusion through the
character’s actions and speech
 internal representation: viewing the character from within -insight into
his/her thoughts and feelings
Steps for tracing the theme
1. major conflict is it man vs. man, man vs. self, man vs. society…?
2. forces of conflict who is involved in the conflict? (name the antagonist and
protagonist force)
3. climax
4. denouement what is the result of the conflict’s resolution?
5. theme what topic has the author discussed by telling the story and what was
his/her opinion about this topic?
Symbolism
The title described in detail or repeated
3 points of view
1. First person – “I”
2. third person – “he/she”
3. omniscient -- all knowing, author detached
Short Story Notes
The Six Elements of a short story:
7. Plot: The order of ______________ in which the story _______________
8. Conflict: Underlying _____________ shown through the ____________
of the story
5 types of conflict
Man vs. ____________
Man vs. man
Man vs. _____________
Man vs. Supernatural
Man vs. _____________
9. Charcter: _______________ in the story
10. Setting: The ____________ and __________ where the story takes place
11. Mood: The underlying ____________ of the story
12. Theme: The _______________ being explored in the story (author often
expresses his/her _________________)
Structure of a Short Story (copy the slide)
Exposition: Provides _______________ information
The Introductory Paragraph contains information on ______________,
______________, main ________________, and it begins the __________________.
4 Types of Characters

Flat: one sided, always ______________

Round: well ________________, show many character traits. May be
__________ or ____________

Static: character trait/s ______ __________ change over the course of the
story

Dynamic: character trait/s ______ change over the course of the story
3 Methods of characterization

direct exposition: _________ the _____________ what the character is like

active presentation: reader draws his own conclusion through the
character’s ____________ and __________

internal representation: viewing the character from _____________ insight into his/her ___________ and __________________
Steps for tracing the theme
6. major conflict is it man vs. man, man vs. self, man vs. society…?
7. forces of conflict who is involved in the conflict? (name the ___________
and ____________ force)
8. climax
9. denouement what is the result of the conflict’s ________________?
10. theme what topic has the author discussed by telling the story and what was
his/her opinion about this topic?
Symbolism
The title ________________ in detail or ________________
3 points of view
1. _____________ person – “I”
2. ______________ person – “he/she”
3. _______________ -- all knowing, author detached