This document defines key elements and terms used in short stories, including plot, conflict, characters, setting, theme, point of view, and irony. It explains that a plot involves a series of related events presenting and resolving a conflict. Conflict can be internal or external, and involves a struggle between a character and an opposing force. Main characters include the protagonist and antagonist. Additional elements that add interest are complications, suspense, climax and resolution. Characterization involves revealing personalities directly or indirectly. Point of view describes the narrator's relationship to the story and can be first, third omniscient, or third limited. Theme conveys an underlying meaning or opinion about the subject.
This presentation lists and defines elements of a story including plot, theme, and setting. Students will also be prompted to complete a formative assessment during the course of the slideshow.
This presentation lists and defines elements of a story including plot, theme, and setting. Students will also be prompted to complete a formative assessment during the course of the slideshow.
Hi this presentation is made originally by Gherm6 however I found out that it isn't that comprehensive so I added examples to elaborate the types of conflict.
4. Conflict
• The Primary struggle
between the main
character or
characters and an
adverse character,
group or force
• Internal Conflict
– A struggle between a
character and
him/herself
• External Conflict
– A struggle between a
character and an
outside force.
• Man vs. Man
• Man vs. Nature
• Man vs. Supernatural
• Man vs. Society
5. Main characters
• Protagonist
– MAIN CHARACTER
of the story
– Often, hero or character
the audience is
supposed to feel most
sympathetic for
• Antagonist
– primary adversary of
the protagonist
– Sometimes the villain
6. Complications
• Small problems in
addition to the
conflict that add
interest to the story
7. Suspense
• The uncertainty or anxiety that a reader
feels about what will happen in a story
– Foreshadowing
– Dilemma
– Mystery
– Reversal
9. Dilemma
• A character that we
care about is in peril
or must choose
between two
dangerous courses of
action
10. Mystery
• The creation of
suspense by
withholding
information or by
presenting unusual
circumstances
11. Reversal
• A sudden change in a
character’s situation
from good to bad or
vice versa
12. Climax and Resolution
• Climax
– The most exciting point
in the story, when the
conflict is decided
• Resolution
– The conflict is resolved
(positively or negatively)
and the story is brought
to a close
– Also know as
“Denouement”
13. Characterization
• The technique used by a writer
to create and reveal the
personalities of the characters
in a written work. This may be
done by:
• Direct Characterization
– The author directly states
aspects of the character’s
personality
• Indirect Characterization
– describing the character’s
physical appearance and
situation,
– revealing a characters
thoughts, or
– showing the reaction of other
characters.
14. Types of Characters
• Flat Character
– shows only one trait
• Round Character
– Shows many different traits, good and bad
• Static Character
– character does not change through the course of the
story
• Dynamic Character
– character develops and grows during the course of the
story
15. Setting
• The time and place in
which the action of a
narrative occurs
16. Theme
• The underlying meaning
of a literary work.
• This differs from the
subject in that it involves
a statement of opinion
about that subject.
• The theme may be stated
or implied.
• Not every literary work
has a theme, and some
have more than one
17. Point of View
• The relationship
between the narrator
of a story and the
characters in it
• Narrator is NOT the
same as author
• Types of POV:
– First Person
– Third Person,
Omniscient
– Third Person, Limited
Omniscient
– Third Person,
Objective
18. P.O.V. continued
• First Person
– The narrator offers a
personal account of their
own experiences or
describes what happens to
other characters as the
narrator sees it
• Third Person
– The narrator stands outside
the action (non-participatory)
and presents
• Omniscient
– (all-knowing) point of
view
– Can see the thoughts &
emotions of all (or
numerous) characters
• Limited Omniscient
– focuses on one character’s
thoughts and viewpoints
• Objective
– Describes only what can be
seen
– “Reporter style”
19. Irony
• Irony: differences in appearance and reality, or
expectations and results, or meaning and
intention
– Dramatic Irony:
• a contradiction between what a character thinks and what the
reader or audience knows to be true
– Situational Irony:
• an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of
the characters, readers, or audience
– Verbal Irony:
• words are used to suggest the opposite of what is meant (i.e.
sarcasm, double-entendre, etc.)