Elements of a Short Story

Short Story
❑ A short story is a short narrative that
has approximately 10,000 words.
❑ It can be read in one sitting.
❑ It conveys a precise message or lesson
that can be illustrated in events and
experiences.
Elements of a Short Story
➢ Setting
➢ Characters
➢ Tone and Mood
➢ Plot
➢ Point of View
➢ Theme
 Setting
It is where and when the story takes place. In some
stories, setting is a major factor, contributing to the
whole story.
❑ The PLACE is the geographical location
or where most of the action takes place.
❑ The TIME is the historical period, time of day,
date, and year when the story takes place.
❑ The WEATHER CONDITIONS is considered
only if it contributes to the overall story.
 Characters
The characters are the people (or sometimes animals!)
who are featured in a story.
❑ The protagonist is the hero of the story and central
character. We’ll also usually call them the ‘main
character’. They will get most of the attention of the
author. Every narrative – whether it’s a novel or short
story – will have a protagonist.

❑ The antagonist is the villain or the opponent of the main

character. This person stirs trouble and is often the main
cause of tension in the plot line. The hero’s role is often
to prevent the antagonist from doing harm to people.
 Characters
The characters are the people (or sometimes animals!)
who are featured in a story.
❑ Peripheral characters who don’t change
much throughout a story but set the
context are often called static characters.
❑ A dynamic characters might start out as an
unassuming peripheral persons in the story.
As the story progresses, they will show
significant change that may redirect the
plot of the story.
 Characters
The characters are the people (or sometimes animals!)
who are featured in a story.
❑ Flat characters have only 1 or 2
character traits. These characters have no
depth and usually fit a simple role.
❑ Round characters have many character traits.
Their personalities have various qualities and
are complex, more like a real person.
Most main characters are round characters.
 Characters
The characters are the people (or sometimes animals!)
who are featured in a story.

❑ The confidante is the sidekick or

the supporting character for the
protagonist. It often takes the role
of a wise or philosophical
character, although not always
 Tone Mood
Tone hints the Mood is created by the
author’s attitude atmosphere and emotions
towards their narrative. evoked by the prose within the
reader.
❑ Tone creates the voice,
the sound, and the ❑ Genre influences a story’s mood.
mannerisms of the prose ❑ Setting also plays an important
as it’s read aloud. role in mood.
❑ It’s influenced by specific ❑ A narrative can have an overall
word choice, sentence mood whilst also shifting
structure, and rhythm. variably between other, more
transient moods in different scenes.
 Plot
Plot is the sequence of events in a story. These are
planned logical series of events having a BEGINNING,
MIDDLE, and END. There are five essential parts of a plot.
 Plot
EXAMPLE:
Young and full of brightness, Ada was
loved by many. Her bright expressive eyes
an contagious laugh filled the room with
happiness. They lived in a humble home in
a small town. A town where people knew
each other and lived simply.

❑ The EXPOSITION or the introduction is the

beginning of the story where characters and setting
are revealed.
 Plot
EXAMPLE:
But bright Ada suddenly fell ill and had to be
taken to the nearest hospital. It was in the city
and her parents did not have enough money to
see a doctor for her.
“Don’t worry, sweetie,” Ada’s father whispered
to her ear. “We will get help soon.” He stroke
his daughter’s head and kissed her.

❑ The RISING ACTION are the events in the story that

lead to the climax. This is where the complications
and conflict are found.
 Plot
EXAMPLE:
❑ The CLIMAX is the highest Suddenly, someone was frantically
point or turning point of the banging the door. As Ada’s mother
opened it, she was shocked to see
story. the town mayor who was still
catching his breath.
The reader will want to He gave an envelope to Ada’s
mother and said, “Here. For Ada.
find out what happens Go to the city. Now.” Outside, a car
was waiting for them. The driver
next or how the conflict was smiling genuinely as he waited
will be resolved. for the family to climb in.
 Plot
❑ The FALLING ACTION is the part of the EXAMPLE:
They arrived at the
story where events and complications hospital just in time. Ada
was taken in and checked
begin to resolve themselves. by the doctors.
Hours passed and the
This is the part where the couple was sitting beside
Ada, praying for her safety.
reader realizes what has The doctor came in and
happened and if the conflict smiled. “She will be okay.
Her fever is gone and is
was resolved or not. responding well to the
medication.”
 Plot
❑ The DENOUEMENT or the RESOLUTION is the
outcome or untangling of events in the story.

EXAMPLE:
Her parents were relieved and
kissed Ada’s cheeks. “Let’s not
forget to thank everyone back
home,” Ada’s mother said.
“I agree,” Ada’s father replied.
Plot
 Plot
Plot is the sequence of events in a story. These are
planned logical series of events having a BEGINNING,
MIDDLE, and END. There are five essential parts of a plot.

✓Complication
✓Conflict

✓ Characters
✓ Settings
 Plot
Conflict is the opposition of forces which connects
one event to another, making the plot move.
A short story usually has one dominant struggle of
the main character and possibly a few minor ones.
❑Internal Conflict is a struggle of the main character
within himself, such as overcoming grief, resisting an
urge, or making a decision.
❑External Conflict is struggle with a force outside
the main character.
 Plot
There are three types of conflict:
❑ Man vs Self is an internal conflict where the main character
struggles with issues within himself, his ideas, physical
limitations, choices, etc.
❑ Man vs Man is an external conflict where the main character
is at odds with someone else, like another character,
animal or even forces of nature.
❑ Man vs Society is an external conflict where the main
character struggles against ideas, practices, or customs of
other people.
 Point of View
This is the angle from which the story is told.

First Person
❑ The story is told by the protagonist or one of
the characters close to the protagonist.
❑ The story is told through his eyes and how he
feels and knows about it.
❑ Pronouns like I, me, we, etc. are used.
 Point of View
This is the angle from which the story is told.

Second Person
❑ It uses the pronoun "you" to immerse the reader in the
experience of being the protagonist.
❑ It places the reader in the position of the protagonist –
the one to whom the action occurs.
❑ It is the most rarely used because it doesn't allow the
narrator as much freedom as first person and third person, so
it's hard to sustain this style of narration for very long.
 Point of View
This is the angle from which the story is told.
Third Person
❑ The narrator is someone (or some entity) who is not a
character in the story being told.
❑ It uses the pronouns "he," "she," and "they," to refer to all the
characters.
❑ It is the most common point of view in writing, as it gives the
writer a considerable amount of freedom to focus on different
people, events, and places without being limited within the
consciousness of a single character.
 Point of View
This is the angle from which the story is told.
Third Person
❑ Third Person Omniscient Point of View:
It means that the narrator knows all the thoughts and feelings of every
character and can dip in and out of the internal life of anyone, as needed.
Omniscient just means "all-knowing." This type of narrator is more god-like
than human, in the sense that their perspective is unlimited.
❑ Third Person Limited Point of View:
The narrator does not have an omniscient, unlimited perspective.
They may have access to the thoughts and feelings of to only one
character, or none at all.
 Theme
The theme is the central idea of the short story.
It may be the writer’s thoughts on a topic or a view about
human nature.
❑ Themes are often associated with a ‘moral of a story’ or an
analogy (a hidden meaning in the text).
❑ They attempt to convey a piece of wisdom or fundamental
truth about human nature for us to think about.
Some examples of themes are:
▪ Change is inevitable.
▪ Love is blind.
▪ We cannot judge a book by its cover.