Elements of a Short Story Basic Concepts

Elements of Short Story

1. Elements
of a
Short Story

2. Objectives
Elements of a Short Story
•Identify and define
elements of a short story
•Appreciate the
value/lesson in the story.

4. Overview
A Short Story is similar to your dish. It needs
the best ingredients for you to enjoy its delectable taste.
Elements of a Short Story
Stories are made up of four important
elements:
Setting
Characters, Plot,
and Theme

5. Setting
Tells the reader where and when
the story takes place.

6. Characters and
Characterization
The people, and in some stories,
the animals that take part in
the story.
The description of the personalities
of the characters in the story and
the way in which an author
reveals their personalities.

7. Two Identifications
of Characters
1. Protagonist –
the hero of the story
2. Antagonist –
the villain in the story
who is always
opposing the
protagonist

8. Methods of Characterization
Creating Believable Characters
•Indirect
–physical appearance
–speech, thoughts,
feelings, or actions of
the character
–speech, thoughts,
feelings, or actions of
other characters
•Direct
–the narrator’s
direct
comments
about a
character

9. Plot
•The chain of related events that
take place in a story.
•Built around conflict, which is
a struggle between opposing
forces.

10. PLOT DIAGRAM
R
isin
g
A
c
tio
n











F
a
l
l
i
n
g

A
c
t
i
o
n
Resolution
Climax
Exposition
Conflict
•The plot is 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
The struggles or problems between
opposing forces.
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.

12. -Man vs. Man-Man vs. Man
-Man vs. Nature-Man vs. Nature
-Man vs. Obstacle or Society-Man vs. Obstacle or Society
- Man vs. Supernatural Being- Man vs. Supernatural Being
-Man vs. Himself-Man vs. Himself
Types of ConflictTypes of Conflict

13. Theme
Ex. Ex.
LoveLove
Family FeudFamily Feud
Themes Themes from ‘The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet’from ‘The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet’
•The main idea of a story. The main idea of a story.
•It is not a moral, lesson, or a It is not a moral, lesson, or a
rule for living.rule for living.

14. CONCLUSION
Now that we have identified and Now that we have identified and
defined the elements of a short defined the elements of a short
story, let us use the elements to story, let us use the elements to
analyze a Short Story. analyze a Short Story.
You may use your notes from the You may use your notes from the
PowerPoint presentation to assist PowerPoint presentation to assist
you when reading..you when reading..

16. 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