The Elements of a Short Story

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Identify the six elements of a short story
• Define each element of a short story
• Demonstrate elements of a short story by giving examples

The Six Elements of the Short Story

1. Setting
2. Point of View
3. Plot
4. Conflict
5. Character
6. Theme

Setting�The time and location in which a story takes place. 

• place - geographical location.  Where is the action of the story taking place? 
• time - When is the story taking place? (historical period, time of day, year, etc) 
• social conditions - What is the daily life of the characters like (speech, dress, mannerisms, customs, etc.)? 
• mood or atmosphere - What feeling is created at the beginning of the story?  Is it bright and cheerful or dark and frightening?
• weather conditions

Point of View�Perspective from which the story is told.

• First Person: the narrator is one of the characters in the story
• Third Person: the narrator is not a character in the story
• Omniscient: is all-knowing
• Omniscient Limited: vantage point of one character
• Omniscient Objective: cannot see into the minds of any characters (observer)

Plot

• Is the sequence of events that make up a story.
• Helps the reader follow the story from beginning, to the middle, to the end.
• Contains exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Plot Diagram

2

1

3

4

5

Exposition

• Introduces the characters, setting and tone of the story.
• The audience gets to know the characters, what their goals and motivations are, and what kind of person they are.
• Most importantly, we are introduced to the main conflict (main problem).

Rising Action

• This part of the story begins to develop the conflict.
• A building of tension or suspense occurs and the plot becomes more complicated.

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Climax

• The turning point in the plot, the moment where conflict is at its most intense.
• Usually the main character comes face to face with the conflict.

Falling Action

• All loose ends of the plot are tied up. The conflict(s) and climax come to an end.
• The main character either triumphs or fails at conquering the conflict.

Resolution (or Dénouement)

• The conclusion of the story.
• The conflict(s) have been resolved and there is no more tension.

Conflict

• The issue/problem that needs to be resolved in the story
• Can either be external or internal

External Conflict�An external conflict is between a character and an outside force.

• Man vs. Man
• Man vs. Nature
• Man vs. Society

Man vs. Man

• A struggle between one character and another.
• The most common and easiest to recognize type of conflict
• Can you think of Examples?

Man vs. Nature

• A character struggles with a force of nature (hurricane, flood, dangerous animal).
• Usually, the character is struggling to survive.
• Can you think of any examples?

Man vs. Society

• A character, or group of characters fight against the society in which they live.
• Characters are often fighting against social values, laws or beliefs.
• Usually comments on positive or negative aspects of society.
• Can you think of examples?

Internal Conflict�An internal conflict is between a character and his or her self.

• Man vs. Self

Man vs. Self

• The character’s struggle takes place within his or her mind – he or she is conflicted between opposing values or traits.
• Usually, the character must make a choice between right and wrong or overcome mixed emotions and/or feelings.
• Can you think of examples?

Other Types of Conflict

• Man vs. Supernatural – ghosts, monsters, aliens, etc.
• Man vs. Fate – fighting against destiny
• Man vs. Technology – computer, machines, etc.

Character

• Without characters we have no story. Vivid and complex characters whose problems and triumphs we identify with are what draw is us to a story.

Characterization

• The process by which the author creates vivid, believable characters in a story.
• This can be done by either direct or indirect characterization.

Direct Characterization

• When the author tells us directly what a character is like.
• This can be done by the narrator, another character, or the character him- or herself.
• “Jason was a tall, broad-shouldered football player who always had a smile on his face.”

Indirect Characterization

• The reader must infer for themselves what the character is like through the character’s appearance, thoughts, actions, speech, and other characters’ reactions to that particular person.
• What does the character do?
• What does the character say?
• What does the character think?
• How do other characters react?

Types of Characters

• The Protagonist is the main character in the story. The action of the story revolves around the protagonist and the conflict he or she faces.
• The Antagonist is the character or force the protagonist struggles against and must overcome.

Types of Characters

• Round characters are complex and multidimensional. They have many different traits and are much like real people with several sides to their personality.
• Flat characters have 1 or 2 defining characteristics and are not as complex. Flat characters are usually used to contrast with the main characters.

Character Development

• A dynamic character is a character that develops and changes over the course of the story.
• A static character is a character that remains the same throughout the entire story.

Theme

• What makes a story linger in our hearts and minds long after we’ve read it? Often, it is the idea on which the story is built – its theme.

What is Theme?

• The central idea, or insight, about life or human behavior that a story reveals.

Living a simple life leads to greater personal freedom.

What is Theme?

• In most stories, the theme is not stated directly. Instead, it is revealed to us through the characters’ experiences.

Universal Themes�A theme that can be understood by anyone, anywhere, anytime.

• Different writers from different cultures often express similar themes.
• A theme is a generalization about life or human nature.
• Certain types of experiences are common to people around the world.

Universal Themes

• Come up again and again in literature. They transcend time and place.
• Deal with basic human concerns – good vs. evil, life and death, love and loss.
• Shine a light on our common experiences
• Can help guide us through our lives.

Universal Themes�Can you identify the theme in the following stories?

• The Ant and the Grasshopper
• The Tortoise and the Hare
• The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Finding the Theme�The theme is not the same thing as the subject.

• The subject is simply the topic. It can be stated in a single word, such as, loyalty.
• The theme makes a revelation about the subject and should be expressed in a sentence: “Loyalty to a leader is not always noble.”

Finding the Theme�Writers often reveal the theme through the experiences of the character.

• Does the main character change?
• Does the character realize or learn something he/she did not know before?

Finding the Theme�Conflict can also help reveal the theme.

• What is the conflict that the main character faces?
• How is the conflict resolved?

Finding the Theme�Sometimes the title gives a clue.

• Does the title have any special meaning?
• Also, remember the theme applies to the entire story, not just parts of the story.

Finding the Theme�There is no single way to state the theme.

• People may express the same theme in different words.
• There may be differing opinions about what the main theme is.
• Some stories may have more than one theme.

• Questions?