2. What exactly is a short story? Always FICTION (something feigned, invented, or imagined; a made-up story) Able to read in one sitting A GOOD short story presents enough lifelike qualities to help us better understand ourselves and our world. Short Stories present us with a world of the author’s imagination. The author has at least one important purpose in mind: to illustrate a truth, or generalization, about life.
3. What should I be thinking while reading a short story? What happens? (PLOT) When and Where does it happen? (SETTING) Who does it? (CHARACTER) What does it mean? (THEME)
4. What exactly do those words mean? PLOT: Arrangement of action. The author must select facts and place them in an interesting order. SETTING: The time and place of the action. CHARACTERIZATION: How the author presents the character Direct- A summary of character’s traits and characteristics Indirect- Through a character’s dialogue and action THEME: The whole story, including the atmosphere or feeling, makes up the theme. The whole story is an image.
6. What do these have to do with a short story? Exposition: Introduction to the character, setting, situation, and background of story Narrative Hook: Introduction of the story’s conflict Rising Action: Begins with the narrative hook, catches attention and adds to the conflict Climax: Highest point of emotional involvement, the conflict peaks Falling Action: Events stemming from the results of the climax Resolution: The final outcome or conclusion of conflict
7. Conflict Man vs. Man: Man in conflict against another character Man vs. Himself: Man in conflict with himself (inner turmoil) Man vs. Nature: Man in conflict with an aspect of nature (blizzard, bear) Man vs. Society: Man in conflict with a group of people or society beliefs Man vs. Fate: Man in conflict with that which he cannot change
