The document discusses the key elements of a short story, including plot, setting, characters, and theme. It defines each element and provides examples. Plot involves events that create conflict and lead to a climax and resolution. Setting establishes time, location, and mood. Characters include the protagonist and antagonist, as well as secondary characters defined by traits. Theme conveys a universal idea or message.

1. Short Story
Elements
Prof.R.R.Borse,
Eng.Dept.,
BP Arts,SMA Sci,KKC Com.College,
Chalisgaon

2. What is a short story?
 A brief, imaginative narrative containing few
characters, simple plot, conflict, and
suspense which leads to a climax and a
swift conclusion.

3. THE 4 ELEMENTS OF THE SHORT STORY
 PLOT
 SETTING
 CHARACTER
 THEME

4. #1. PLOT
The chain of events in a story.
Consists of 6 main ingredients:
1. Introduction/Exposition
2. Inciting incident
3. Rising action
4. Climax
5. Falling Action
6. Resolution

5. PLOT GRAPH
An excellent way to map out a story’s plot

6. Introduction
Introduces the reader to:
 Setting
 Basic situation
 Characters involved
 Narrative Hook: question or statement that
grabs the reader’s attention

7. Inciting Incident
 The first major action in the story that sets
the story in motion (gets the ball rolling).

8. Rising Action
Incidents which carry the plot along. It often
includes the following:
 Foreshadowing
 Flashback
 Conflict
 Suspense

9. FORESHADOWING
 A technique for hinting at events that may
occur later in the plot.

10. FLASHBACK
 The insertion of an earlier event into the time
order of a narrative.

11. Conflict
 It is what prevents the main character from getting what he or she
wants
 The plot is driven by climax and it is THE MOST IMPORTANT
FEATURE OF THE STORY
 There are two types of conflicts: Internal and External

12. Internal Conflict
PERSON VS. SELF

13. External Conflict
PERSON VS. PERSON

14. External Conflict
PERSON VS. SOCIETY

15. External Conflict
PERSON VS.THE ENVIRONMENT

16. External Conflict
PERSON VS. FATE

17. External Conflict
PERSON VS. TECHNOLOGY

18. External Conflict
PERSON VS. THE SUPERNATURAL

19. SUSPENSE
 The feeling of
excitement and
curiosity that keeps
the reader turning the
pages; created by
making the readers
wonder how the
conflict will be
resolved

20. CLIMAX
 The highest point of
interest in the story when
the character(s) solves
his/her struggles
 Usually the point of
highest emotion
 The climax can be
SUBJECTIVE (there may
be different answers, so
you must prove your
choice)

21. FALLING ACTION
 The character completes the action of
his/her decision

22. THE RESOLUTION
 The final workings of a story’s conflict
 All of the loose ends are tied up (usually)
 Narrative Twist: a surprise ending

23. #2. SETTING
 The time (time of day, season, present, past, future) and
the location (country, planet, town, buildings, PLUS a
description of the surroundings) where the action occurs
 Helps to create the mood and atmosphere of the text

24. ATMOSPHERE
 The feeling that the setting evokes (i.e.
mysterious, happy, eerie)

25. MOOD
 The author’s emotional attitude toward the
subject matter (i.e. excitement, nostalgia)
 NOT the mood of the characters

26. #3. CHARACTERs
 Any personalities who
are involved in the plot
of the story (people,
animals, fantasy
characters)

27. PROTAGONIST
 Usually the “good guy”
or hero in the story
 The main character
that we follow
 The character that
strives to solve the
conflict

28. ANTAGONIST
 The “bad guy” or
villain in the story
 Usually creates
conflict for the main
character

29. SECONDARY CHARACTERS
 Other characters who are necessary to
moving the plot along, but may not be
involved with the central conflict

30. CHARACTER TRAITS
Physical and personality characteristics that
are revealed through:
1. What the character does
2. What the character says
3. What other characters say or do about the
character
4. What the author states directly
5. What the author infers

31. #4. THEME
The central idea about life that the story
highlights; THE MAIN IDEA (universal truths).
The message the author is conveying.
1. Determine the specific conflict
2. Decide what side of the conflict the story
represents
3. How is the conflict resolved? Who wins?
Who loses?

32. THEME
 Theme is NOT the moral of the story
 Theme is NOT plot
 Theme IS the general subject matter of a
work of art
 Theme may contain a message

33. THEME
 Not all short stories have a theme; some
are just for entertainment or fun

34. THEME OR NOT A THEME?
1) Red Riding Hood is about how you shouldn’t trust strangers
2) Stars Wars is a movie about Luke Skywalker
3) Apocalypse Now is about the insanity of war.
4) This painting is about loneliness
5) That story is about two guys who steal a car
6) Romeo and Juliet is about love
7) Romeo and Juliet is about two families fighting
8) I saw a movie last night about survival
9) Hansel and Gretel is about two children
10) Cinderella is about poetic justice