Literary Elements in Short Story

1. TESL 1034 : LITERATURE
LITERARY ELEMENTS IN SHORT STORY
THEME
Theme is the main idea that the writer wants to convey to us as the reader through her or his
writing. There are a lot of themes that we can find in a short story but there is only one main
theme that plays in the whole short story. In Malaysian literature, themes that apply in the
short story reflect and define the society in Malaysia. The most common theme used in
short story is love. This is because the theme love is much more easier to be delivered and
close to the society heart.
ISSUE
Issue can be closely related to the theme that the writer apply in the same short story. In one
theme, there are lots of issue that the reader can relate with their real life. For example in the
short story ‘Everything’s Arranged’ by Siew Yue Kilingly the issue that we can derive from
the theme arranged marriage is the forbidden relationship between man and woman before
marriage. Generally, no matter in what culture you are ,it is strictly prohibited for a woman
THEME
ISSUE
PLOT
PLOT TECHNIQUES
CHARACTERS
SETTING
POINT OF VIEW
LITERARY DEVICES

2. having relationship with a guy unless the guy is recommended by the woman family ,since
parents believe that they know who is the perfect choice for their daughter.
PLOT
Conflict in a fiction is presented in structured format called plot. In a story plot, there are a
few elements that you must know. The elements are exposition, foreshadowing, inciting
force, conflict, rising action, crisis, climax, falling action and resolution.
Exposition
* the introduction of
the story to give the
readers the rough
background of the
story. For example,
setting,
characteristics of
the character and
etc.
Foreshadowing
* hints to what will
happen later in a
story
Inciting force
*anything that will
trigger the
conflict.For example
the event or
character.
Conflict
* The interesting part
in a fiction that
creates plot. The
conflict can be
identified as one in
four kinds.(Man vs
man,man vs nature,
man vs society, man
vs self)
Rising action
* A series of events
that happen due to
the conflict that
begin with inciting
force and ends with
climax.
Crisis
*Crisis also known
as the turning point.
At this point, the
conflict become
worse. Crisis can
occurs before or at
the same time as the
climax.
Climax
*Climax is the result
of the crisis.This is
where the moments
of highest interest
and emotion for the
reader,which is the
point where the
outcome of the story
is predicted.
Falling action
*Events that close
the story
Resolution or
Denouement
*The conclusion of
the story

3. PLOT TECHNIQUES
- To make the story become interesting by having a variety of techniques in that story
and also to prevent the reader from being bored with the writer style of writing.
• To make the reader feels the
excitementin the short story and
eagers to know what will happen
next.
SUSPENSE
• To let the reader know further about
something in the short story by
knowing the vivid memory of the
character.
FLASHBACK
• To give clues to the reader on what
will happen later in the story
FORESHADOWING
DIALOGUE
FREYTAG
.To make the conversation that happen
in the short story much more clearer.

4. CHARACTERS
-In short story, there are main and minor character
-Main character always be the three dimensional character who has good and bad qualities.
The goals, ambitions and values of the character change.
-Minor character always be the two dimensional character who has only one or two striking
qualities and the predominant quality of the character is not balanced by an opposite quality.
Protagonist
•The main character in the story
Antagonist
•The villain character in the short story who has the opposite
characteristics with the protagonist
Flat
•The character that has the same value from the beginning of the
story till the end.
Round
•The character that complex and undergo developments due to
what happens to the character
Dynamic
•The character that undergoes internal changes as a result of
what happens to the character.
Static
•The character that do not change in the course of the story
Foil
•A character who is contrast to the protagonist

5. SETTINGS
POINT OF VIEW
TIME
The time when the events in
the story happen, for example
in the afternoon.
PLACE
The place where the events in
the story take place, for
example in the restaurant.
CIRCUMTANCES
The circumtances of the
event,for example the
weather.
PHYSICAL DETAILS
Physical details that is applied
in the story.The physical
appearance ofthe character,
for example the costumes.
FIRST
PERSON
•The narrator himself be
one of the character in
the short story.
•the writer cannot tell us
thoughts of other
character.
THIRD
PERSON
OBJECTIVE
•The narrator as the
outsider who give report
on what he sees and
hears .
•The writer cannot tells
the reader the thoughts
of the character
THIRD
PERSON
LIMITED
•The narrator acts as
an outsider who sees
the mind of one of the
character in the short
story.
OMNISCIENT
 The narrator acts as an
outsiders who can enter
the minds of many
characters

6. LITERARY DEVICES
Here are a few of literary devices used in a short story:
Comparision between
two unlikely things
Example
The road was a ribbon
of moonlight .
METAPHOR
A concrete
representation of
feeling, ideas and
impression
Example
glittering white, the
blanket of snow
covered everything in
sight.
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IMAGERY
a statement that has
been exaggerated to
heighten effect.
Example
We are so poor, we
don't have two cents to
rub together.
HYPERBOLE
the words sound like
they are mean
water plops into pond
ONOMATOPOEIA

7. non living things
representing human
quality
Example
The leaves waved in
the wind
PERSONIFICATION
Expresses the
resemblence between
two different things
Example
cute as a kitten
SIMILE