Short Story Elements Handout

SHORT STORY/NOVEL ELEMENTS
1) SETTING: The time and location in which a story takes place. For some
stories the setting is very important, while for others it is not. There are several
aspects of a story's setting to consider when examining how setting contributes to a
story (some, or all, may be present in a story:
a place ! geographical location. "here is the action of the story taking place#
b time ! "hen is the story taking place# ($istorical period, time of day, year, etc..
c weather condition ! %s it rainy, sunny, stormy, etc#
d ocial condition ! "hat is the daily life of the characters like# &oes the story
contain local colour (writing that focuses on the speech, dress, mannerisms,
customs, etc. of a particular place#
e mood or atmophere ! "hat feeling is created at the beginning of the story# %s
it bright and cheerful or dark and frightening#
!) "LOT: The plot is how the author arranges events to develop his basic idea' %t
is the se(uence of events in a story or play. The plot is a planned, logical series of
events having a beginning, middle, and end. The short story usually has one plot so
it can be read in one sitting. There are )ve essential parts of plot #ERI$ %R)&
a E'poition ! The beginning of the story, often where the characters and the
setting are introduced.
b Riin( )ction ! This is where the events in the story become complicated and
the con*ict in the story is revealed (events that lead to the climax.
c Incitin( Incident + This is usually a point of con*ict and involves a character
making an important decision that pushes the action forward and leads to the
climax.
d $lima' ! This is the highest point of interest in the story. The reader wonders
what will happen next' will the con*ict be resolved#
d %eno*ment + The events and complications begin to unravel and resolve
themselves.
e Reol*tion ! This is the )nal outcome or untangling of events in the story.
%t is helpful to consider climax as a three!fold phenomenon: , the main character
receives new information - accepts this information (reali.es it but does not
necessarily agree with it / acts on this information (makes a choice that will
determine whether or not he0she gains his ob1ective.

+) $ON,LI$T: "ithout con*ict there is no plot: it is the opposition of forces
which ties one incident to another and makes the plot move. 2on*ict is not merely
limited to open arguments' it is any form of opposition that faces the main
character. "ithin a short story there may be only one central struggle, or there may
be one dominant struggle with several minor ones.
There are two types of con*ict:
, E'ternal ! 3 struggle with a force outside oneself.
- Internal + (4motional, moral, psychological. 3 struggle within oneself' a person
must make some decision, overcome pain, (uiet their temper, resist an urge, etc.
There are four kinds of con*ict:
, "eron -. "eron (physical ! The leading character struggles with his physical
strength against other men, forces of nature, or animals.
- "eron -. $irc*mtance (classical ! The leading character struggles against
fate, or the circumstances of life facing him0her.
/ "eron -. Societ/ (social ! The leading character struggles against ideas,
practices, rules, or customs.
5 "eron -. Himel0/Herel0 (psychological ! The leading character struggles
with himself0herself' with his0her own soul, ideas of right or wrong, physical
limitations, choices, etc.
1) $H)R)$TER: There are two meanings for the word character:
, The person in a work of )ction.
- The characteristics of a person.
Persons in a work of fction ! Antagonist and Protagonist
6hort stories use few characters. 7ne character is clearly central to the story with
all ma1or events having some importance to this character ! he0she is the
897T3:7;%6T. The opposer of the main character is called the 3;T3:7;%6T.
The Characteristics of a Person -
%n order for a story to seem real to the reader its characters must seem real.
2haracteri.ation is the information the author gives the reader about the characters
themselves. The author may reveal a character in several ways:
a <77=6: his0her physical appearance
b 68442$ > T$7?:$T: what he0she says, thinks, feels and dreams
c 32T%7;6: what he0she does or does not do
d T$97?:$ 7T$496: what other characters say about and how they react to
him0her
2haracters are convincing if they are: consistent, motivated, and realistic.
Characters can be...
,. %/namic 2 developing, multi!sided personalities that change ! for better or
worse ! by the end of the story.
-. Static or ,lat ! 6tereotype, have one or two characteristics that never change
and are emphasi.ed e.g. brilliant detective, drunk, scrooge, cruel stepmother, etc.

3) "OINT O, VIE4: 8oint of view, or 8.7.@., is de)ned as the angle from which
the story is told.
,. Innocent Eye ! The story is told through the eyes of a child (his0her 1udgment
being diAerent from that of an adult .
-. Stream of Consciousness ! The story is told so that the readers feel as if they
are inside the head of one character and know all their thoughts and reactions.
/. First Person ! The story is told by the protagonist or a character who interacts
closely with the protagonist (using pronouns: %, me, we, etc.. The reader sees the
story through this person's eyes as he0she experiences it and only knows what
he0she knows or feels.
5. mniscient ! The author can narrate the story using the omniscient point of
view. 6he0he can move from character to character, event to event, having free
access to the thoughts, feelings and motivations of his characters and she0he
introduces information where and when he chooses. There are two main types of
omniscient point of view:
a mniscient !imited ! The author tells the story in third person (using pronouns
they, she, he, it, etc. "e know only what the character knows and what the author
allows him0her to tell us. "e can see the thoughts and feelings of characters if the
author chooses to reveal them to us.
b mniscient b"ecti#e + The author tells the story in the third person. %t
appears as though a camera is following the characters, going anywhere, and
recording only what is seen and heard. There is no comment on the characters or
their thoughts. ;o interpretations are oAered. The reader is placed in the position of
spectator without the author there to explain. The reader has to interpret events on
his own.

5) THEME: The theme in a piece of )ction is its controlling idea or its central
insight. %t is the author's underlying meaning or main idea that she0he is trying to
convey. The theme is often a view on human nature, or reveals a truth about society
or an individual in society. The title of the short story usually points to what the
writer is saying and she0he may use various )gures of speech to emphasi.e her0his
theme, such as: symbol, allusion, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, and0or irony.
6ome simple examples of common themes from literature, T@, and )lm are:
! Things are not always as they appear to be
! <ove and0or family prevail over all obstacles
! Believe in yourself and be true to yourself, no matter what
! 8eople are afraid of change
! Technology can push us together, but it can also pull us apart
! &on't 1udge a book by its cover

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SHORT STORY/NOVEL ELEMENTS

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