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The Elements of A Short Story

This document outlines the key elements of a short story, including setting, plot, conflict, character, and theme. It defines setting as the time and location of the story. For plot, it describes the typical plot structure including exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. It also defines the two types of conflict - external and internal - and four sub-types of conflict involving person vs person, person vs circumstances, person vs society, and person vs self. Character is described as being developed through physical description, thoughts, reactions, conversations, and interactions. Finally, theme is defined as the central idea or insight the author aims to convey.

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Carmelo Palacios
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44 views9 pages

The Elements of A Short Story

This document outlines the key elements of a short story, including setting, plot, conflict, character, and theme. It defines setting as the time and location of the story. For plot, it describes the typical plot structure including exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. It also defines the two types of conflict - external and internal - and four sub-types of conflict involving person vs person, person vs circumstances, person vs society, and person vs self. Character is described as being developed through physical description, thoughts, reactions, conversations, and interactions. Finally, theme is defined as the central idea or insight the author aims to convey.

Uploaded by

Carmelo Palacios
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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THE

ELEMENTS
OF A
SHORT
STORY
SETTING
The time and location in which a
story takes place is called the
setting. There are several aspects of
a story's setting to consider when
examining how setting contributes
to a story.
PLOT
A PLOT IS HOW THE AUTHOR
ARRANGES EVENTS TO
DEVELOP HIS BASIC IDEA; IT IS
THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS IN A
STORY OR PLAY. IT IS ALSO A
PLANNED, LOGICAL SERIES OF
EVENTS HAVING A BEGINNING,
MIDDLE, AND END.
There are six (6) essential parts of plot:
EXPOSITION
The beginning of the story where the characters and
the setting are revealed
INCITING FORCE
An incident of great importance to the central
character, one compelling him or her to act.
RISING ACTION
This is where the events in the story become complicated
and the conflict in the story is revealed (events between
the introduction and climax).
CLIMAX
This is the highest point of interest and the turning point
of the story.
FALLING ACTION
The events and complications begin to resolve
themselves.
DENOUEMENT
This is the final outcome or untangling of events in the
story.
CONFLICT
Conflict is essential to plot. It is the opposition of
forces that ties one incident to another and makes
the plot move. Within a short story there may be
only one central struggle, or there may be one
dominant struggle with many minor ones.

Two Types of Conflict:


EXTERNAL
A struggle with a force outside one's self.
INTERNAL
A struggle within one's self; a person must make
some decision, overcome pain, quiet their temper,
resist an urge, etc.
FOUR TYPES OF SUB-CONFLICT:

PERSON VS. PERSON (Physical)


The leading character struggles with his physical
strength against other men, forces of nature, or animals.

PERSON VS. CIRCUMSTANCES (Classical)


The leading character struggles against fate, or the
circumstances of life facin him/her.

PERSON VS. SOCIETY (Social)


The leading character struggles against before ideas
practices, or customs of other people.

PERSON VS. HIMSELF/HERSELF (Psychological)


The leading character struggles with himself/herself;
with his/her own soul, ideas of right or wrong physical
limitations, choices, etc.
CHARACTER
WRITERS DEVELOP THEIR
CHARACTERS IN EVERAL
WAYS.
THESE INCLUDE:
THE CHARACTER'S PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
THE CHARACTER'S THOUGHTS
THE CHARACTER'S REACTION TO EVENTS
THE CHARACTER'S CONVERSATION
THE CHARACTER'S ACTIONS
THE REACTION TO OTHERS TO THE CHARACTER
THEME
THE THEME IN A PIECE OF FICTION IS
ITS CONTROLLING IDEA R ITS
CENTRAL INSIGHT. IT IS THE
AUTHOR'S UNDERLYING MEANING OR
MAIN IDEA THAT HE IS TRYING TO
CONVEY.
THE TITLE OF THE SHORT STORY USUALLY POINTA TO WHAT
THE WRITERIS SAYING AND HE MAY USE VARIOUS FIGUES OF
SPEECH TO EMPHASIZE HIS THEME, SUCH AS SYMBOL,
ALLUSION, SIMILE, METAPHOR, HYPERBOLE, OR IRONY.
A THEME CAN BE EXPRESSED IN ONE OR TWO SIMPLE
STATEMENTS ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS AND/OR LIFE.
BY THOMAS WILSON

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