This document outlines the key elements of a short story, including setting, plot, conflict, character, point of view, and theme. It defines plot as the sequence of events with a beginning, middle, and end. Traditional plots include an introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement. Unconventional plots may involve flashbacks, foreshadowing, suspense, or surprise endings. Characters are also essential and can be protagonists, antagonists, major, minor, static, dynamic, flat, or round.

1. Elements
of a
Short Story
Kate S.
Magpoc

2. Short Story
- It is a brief work of fiction. It presents a
sequence of events or plot.

3. Main Elements
• Setting – the time and location in which a story
takes place.
• Plot – the sequence of events in a story or play.
• Conflict – the opposition of forces which ties
one incident to another and makes the plot
move.
• Character – the person and his characteristics
in a work of fiction.
• Point of View – the angle from which the story
is told.
• Theme – the central idea or belief.

4. Plot
* the plot is how the author arranges events to
develop his basic idea; it is the sequence of
events. The plot is planned, logical series of
events having a beginning, middle and end. The
short story usually ha one plot so it can be read
in one sitting.

5. K I D
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N
L
O
P TO
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6. Traditional/ Conventional
• Introduction – the beginning of the story where
the characters and the setting is revealed.
• Rising Action – this is where the events in the
story become complicated and conflict in the story
is revealed.
• Climax – this is the highest point of interest and
turning point of the story.
• Falling Action – the events and complications
begin to resolve themselves. The reader knows
what has happened next and if the conflict was
resolved or not
• Denouement – this is the final outcome or
untangling of events in the story.

7. Unconventional Plot
• Flashback – this is a section in a story where the action
is interrupted to tell about an earlier event, scenes or
incidents which took place prior to the beginning of the
plot.
• Foreshadowing – this is a hint or clue about an event
that will occur later in the story.
• Suspense – this is the feeling of excitement or tension
in the reader’s experience as the action of plot unfolds.
• Surprise ending – this is an ending that catches the
reader guard with unexpected turn of events.
• In Media Res – the technique of beginning a story in
the middle of the action, with background information
given later in flashback.

8. Character
• This include the person in a work of fiction and
characteristics of a person.
• In a work of fiction, one finds the protagonist
and the antagonist. The protagonist is the
central character with all major events having
some importance to him/her. The opposer of the
main character is the antagonist.

9. Kind of Character
• Protagonist
• Antagonist
• Major
• Minor
• Static
• Dynamic
• Flat
• Round

10. Elements of Character
• Appearance
• Personality
• Background
• Motivation
• Relationship
• Conflict
• Change

11. DE N