Elements of a Short Story
7th Grade Language Arts
Power Point Presentation created by: Selise Ridolfi
Elements of a Short Story
Setting
Characterization
Plot (including
Climax)
Conflict
Theme
Point of view
Short Story Vocabulary
Setting:Tells the
reader where and
when the story
takes place.
Short Story Vocabulary
Plot: A series of
events through
which the writer
reveals what is
happening, to
whom, and why.
Plot Structure
Brainstorming
• What are some significant events in the
story “Seventh Grade” by Gary Soto?
Practice
• Let’s diagram the plot of “Seventh Grade”
by Gary Soto.
Homework
• Watch your favorite T.V. show (cannot be
a reality show!)
• Take notes on the events that happen
• Diagram the plot
• The title of the assignment should be:
Plot Diagram of “insert name of t.v. show”
*Due Tomorrow!!
Now it’s your turn
• Read your assigned short story and
diagram the plot.
• Key questions to consider:
• What did the author need to explain to the readers
in the exposition section?
• What inciting event causes the action to begin to
“rise”?
• Where does the story peak? Is there a clear
climax?
• Which events lead up to the conclusion?
• How is the story resolved?
Plot: Conflict
Conflict is the problem in the story that
needs to be resolved. Without conflict,
there is no plot.
Plot: Types of Conflict
Character vs Character
Character vs Nature
Character vs Society
Character vs Self
Plot: Character vs. Character Conflict
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with
another character, human or not human.
“The new one is the most beautiful of all; he is so young
and pretty.” And the old swans bowed their heads before
him.
Then he felt quite ashamed, and hid his head under his
wing; for he did not know what to do, he was so happy,
and yet not at all proud. He had been persecuted and
despised for his ugliness, and now he heard them say he
was the most beautiful of all the birds.
The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson
Plot: Character vs. Nature Conflict
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict
with the forces of nature, which serve as the antagonist.
It´s a Truffula Seed.
It´s the last one of all!
You´re in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds.
And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs.
Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care.
Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air.
Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack.
Then the Lorax
and all of his friends
may come back.
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
Plot: Character vs. Society Conflict
This type of conflict has the main character in conflict
with a larger group: a community, society, culture, etc.
“I’m tired of living in a hole,” said Jenny.
“Let’s fight for freedom!” cried Bouncer. “We’ll be
soldiers! Rough-riding Rowdies! I’ll be the general and
commander-in-chief!”
The Island of the Skog by Steven Kellogg
Plot: Character vs. Self Conflict
In this type of conflict, the main character experiences
some kind of inner conflict.
Finally, Sam’s father said, “Go to bed now. But before you
go to sleep, Sam, tell yourself the difference between REAL
and MOONSHINE.”
Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness
Short Story Vocabulary
Point of view: The
position of the
narrator of the
story and what the
writer sees from
that vantage point.
First-person narration
• The narrator is a character in the story.
• The narrator knows the thoughts and
feelings of one character and speaks
directly to the reader, who know only
information of which this character is
aware.
• The narrator uses the first-person
pronouns, I, me, and my.
First-person narration example
I took the subway to Clancy Street, found a spot in
front of Park View Apartments and started to
play my sax. I was hoping to attract an audience
and, if I was lucky, earn some money. The
morning started out great. This girl opened her
window and applauded madly. Later, I had a duet
with this big howling dog—what a riot! I had to
move on, however, when a guy slammed the
window shut and called police—not a music
lover. He said I was disturbing the peace. Give
me a break.
Third-Person Limited
• The narrator does not participate in the
action of the story.
• The narrator knows the thoughts and
feelings of one character; the reader knows
only information of which this character is
aware.
• The narrator uses third-person pronouns
like he, she, and they.
Third-person limited narration
example
The man couldn’t take any more. It was noon, but
he had just fallen asleep, because he had worked
the night shift. He had trouble getting to sleep
because he was worried—he had just lost his job
at the warehouse. And why was he fired?
Because he fell asleep on the job. And why had
he been so sleepy? Because a barking dog had
kept him awake the day before. And here it was
again, a barking, howling dog right outside his
window! And some beggar playing a horn
besides. The man picked up his phone and dialed
911.
Third-Person Omniscient
• The narrator does not participate in the
action of the story.
• The narrator knows the thoughts and
feelings of all the characters; the reader
gets insight into several characters and
learns any information of which they are
aware.
• The narrator uses third-person pronouns
like he, she, and they.
Third-person omniscient example
One sunny day, a young woman looked down from her
apartment window and saw a young man playing a
saxophone. “Cool,” she thought as she swayed in time
with his tune. Shortly, a large brown dog sauntered up,
sat in front of the musician, and howled along with the
music.
Then a man in his pajamas yelled from another window. He
said that the noise woke him up and he was going to call
the police. This man worked the night shift and had to
sleep all day and liked cats better than dogs anyway. The
young saxophonist left. Soon the young woman appeared
in the street and hurried off in the direction taken by the
departing horn player. In a year’s time, the young woman
married the talented saxophonist, he had a hit CD, and
they adopted a large brown dog.
Identify the point of view of
the following selection:
• 1. The three with the medals were like
hunting-hawks; and I was not a hawk,
although I might seem a hawk to those who
had never hunted; they, the three, knew
better, and so we drifted apart.
Identify the point of view of
the following selection:
• 2. Judith had studied hard for the test, and
she though she had understood the
material. Now that it was over, she just
didn’t know. For some reason, her mind
just went blank at the start of the test! Now
she wondered about her answers-were they
too short? should she have added more
details? She just wasn’t sure!
Identify the point of view of
the following selection:
• 3. “What’s that sound in the attic?” thought
Angela. “It sounds like ghosts playing marbles.”
The thought of ghosts having a game of marbles
in the attic made her smile. She was almost
tempted to go upstairs and join them, but she still
had an essay to finish, and had frequently been
distracted that afternoon by the sound of light
scampering on her roof. A squirrel sitting in a
tree near the window chewed on an acorn
thoughtfully and watched intently as Angela went
back to her homework.
Short Story Vocabulary
Characterization:
The process by which the
writer reveals the
personality of a character.
Ways writers reveal a character:
• By telling us directly what the character is
like: humble, ambitious, impetuous, easily
manipulated, and so on
• By describing how the character looks and
dresses
• By letting us hear the character speak
Ways writers reveal a character:
• By revealing the character’s private
thoughts and feelings
• By revealing the character’s effect on other
people—showing how other characters feel
or behave toward the character
• By showing the character’s actions
Two methods of revealing
character:
1. Direct characterization
2. Indirect characterization
Direct Characterization
• The writer tells us directly what the
character’s personality is like.
Indirect Characterization
• The reader has to use their own judgment
and put clues together to figure out what
the character is like.
• You can develop your characters by
showing the reader what they are like.
Describing how characters look, act, think,
and speak.
• We do this in real life when we are getting
to know someone.
Showing the reader is far more
effective!
Original sentence:
His mom was really mad.
Revised writing showing character through
how she looks, acts, thinks, and speaks:
As her face slowly began to turn bright red,
he noticed her taking a deep breath and
sucking in her cheeks. Her large brown
eyes narrowed into slits, and a hundred
new wrinkles appeared on her forehead as
Showing is more effective!
Revised writing showing character through
how she looks, acts, thinks, and speaks:
As her face slowly began to turn bright red,
he noticed her taking a deep breath and
sucking in her cheeks. Her large brown
eyes narrowed into slits, and a hundred
new wrinkles appeared on her forehead as
her eyebrows scrunched together in a
frown. His mom’s long black hair started
to shake from side to side as she raised an
accusing finger in his direction.
Practice
• Lucy looked sad.
Take a few minutes to revise this sentence.
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.
Elements of a Short Story
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.
The Assignment
1.
In the next lesson you will review the
short story elements and learn to follow
and map the sequence of events in a
story.
2. You will learn to distinguish the various
points of view from which a story may be
told.
3. You will learn about all of the previously
mentioned short story elements.
Step-by-step Instructions
•
Begin Elements of a Short Story web quest, go to:
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Follow the directions for each step before going onto the next
step.
Complete the activities worksheets.
Complete open response question.
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www.suhsd.k12.ca.us/mvm/netlinks/1shortstory/1shortstory.html