Short Story Elements Setting Character Theme Conflict Point

Short Story Elements Setting, Character, Theme, Conflict, Point of View, and Plot

Setting n n The setting is the ______ and location in which a story takes place There are several aspects of a story’s setting to consider when examining how setting contributes to a story: place, time, _____ conditions, social conditions, mood or atmosphere

Setting n n n Place - geographical location Time – when the story is taking place (historical period, time of day, year, etc. ) Weather Conditions – is it raining, sunny, stormy, etc Social Conditions – what is the daily life of a character like, does the writing focus of speech, dress, mannerisms, customs, etc. ? _____or______– what feeling is portrayed, bright and cheerful or dark and frightening?

Character n There are two meanings for the word character: 1) the person in a work of fiction 2) the characteristics of a person

Character n n Persons in a work of fiction Antagonist and Protagonist is the character at the ____ of the story with all the major events having some importance to this character Antagonist is the _____ of the main character

Character n n n The characteristics of a person In order for a story to seem real, the characters must seem real The author must show the character in several ways n n His/her physical appearance What he/she says, thinks, feels, and dreams What he/she _______or____not do What others say about him/her and how others react to him/her

Character n Characters are… n n Dynamic – many sided personalities that ____, for better or worse, by the end of the story Static– stereotype, have one or two characteristics that _______and are emphasized (brilliant detective, drunk, scrooge, cruel stepmother, etc. )

Theme n n Theme is the story’s controlling idea or central insight. The author’s underlying _____ or ________ that he is trying to convey. The title usually points to what the writer is saying and may use various figures of speech to emphasize theme (symbol, allusion, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, or irony).

Theme n Common themes from literature, film and TV n n n Things are not always what they seem Love is blind Believe in ______ People are afraid of change Don’t judge a ____ by its cover

Conflict n n Conflict is _____ to the plot, without it there is no story It is the _____ of forces which ties one incident to another and makes the _____ move

Conflict n There are ____ types of conflict External – a struggle with a force ____ one’s self 2) Internal – a struggle _______one’s self; a person must make some decision, overcome pain, quiet their temper, resist an urge, etc. 1)

Conflict n There are four kinds of conflict 1) 2) 3) 4) Man vs. Man (physical/_____) – main character struggles with his physical strength against other men, forces of nature, or animals Man vs. Circumstances (classical/_____) – main character struggles against fate, or the circumstances of life facing him/her Man vs. Society (social/_____) – main character struggles against ideas, practices, or customs of other people Man vs. Himself/Herself (psychological/_____) – main character struggles with themselves; with their own soul, ideas of right or wrong, physical limitations,

Point of View n n First Person – the reader sees the story through this _______as he/she experiences it and only knows what that character knows and feels (uses pronouns I, me, we, etc. ) Third Person - told by a narrator who is merely conveying a story, but _____ a character of any kind within the story being told (uses he, she, it, or they; but never as I or we [first-person], or you [secondperson])

Point of View n n Limited Third Person - storytelling in which the narrator knows only the thoughts and feelings of a _____ character, while other characters are presented externally Omniscient - author can move from character to character, event to event, having free access to the thoughts, feelings and motivations of his _______ and he introduces information where and when he chooses

Plot n n n Author _____ events to develop his basic ideas Planned, logical series of events having a beginning, middle, and end Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution

Plot n Climax is a three-fold phenomenon 1) 2) 3) Main character _______new information He/she accepts this information (realizes it but does not ______ agree with it) Then character acts on this information (makes a ____ that will determine whether or not he/she gains his objective)

Bibliography n n Ms. Engram http: //hrsbstaff. ednet. ns. ca/engramja/elements. html About. com: fiction writing