This document provides an overview of key literary elements found in short stories, including theme, issue, plot, plot techniques, characters, setting, point of view, and literary devices. It defines theme as the main idea the writer aims to convey, and issue as something closely related to the theme that readers can relate to in their own lives. Plot is explained through its standard elements of exposition, inciting force, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Character types like protagonists and antagonists are also outlined. The document concludes with definitions of common literary devices such as metaphor, imagery, hyperbole, and onomatopoeia.
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.
Understanding the Short StoryTitle __________________________.docxmarilucorr
Understanding the Short Story
Title :_________________________________________________________________
Plot
1) What does the reader learn during exposition?
2) What is/are the conflict(s)?
3) What complications are introduced?
4) What is the climax of the story?
5) How is the conflict resolved?
Point of view
1) From what point of view is the story narrated? (first person, third person, etc.)
2) How does the narration influence your understanding of the story?
Characters
1) Who is the protagonist?
2) Who is the antagonist?
3) Are the characters round or flat?
4) Are the characters static or dynamic?
Setting
1) What is the setting of the story?
2) Does the setting influence other elements of the story?
Theme
1) What is/are the theme(s) of the story?
2) How do you know?
LITERARY TERMS
"Structure" includes all the elements in a story. The final objective is to see the story as a whole and to become aware of how the parts are put together to produce a unified effect.
ELEMENTS OF PLOT
All fiction is based on conflict and this conflict is presented in a structured format called PLOT.
Exposition
The introductory material which gives the setting, creates the tone, presents the characters, and presents other facts necessary to understanding the story.
Foreshadowing
The use of hints or clues to suggest what will happen later in the story.
Inciting Force
The event or character that triggers the conflict.
Conflict
The essence of fiction. It creates plot. The conflicts we encounter can usually be identified as one of four kinds. (Man versus…Man, Nature, Society, or Self)
Rising Action
A series of events that builds from the conflict. It begins with the inciting force and ends with the climax.
Crisis
The conflict reaches a turning point. At this point the opposing forces in the story meet and the conflict becomes most intense. The crisis occurs before or at the same time as the climax.
Climax
The climax is the result of the crisis. It is the high point of the story for the reader. Frequently, it is the moment of the highest interest and greatest emotion. The point at which the outcome of the conflict can be predicted.
Falling Action
The events after the climax which close the story.
Resolution (Denouement)
Rounds out and concludes the action.
CHARACTERIZATION
MAJOR CHARACTERS
Almost always round or three-dimensional characters. They have good and bad qualities. Their goals, ambitions and values change. A round character changes as a result of what happens to him or her. A character who changes inside as a result of what happens to him is referred to in literature as a DYNAMIC character. A dynamic character grows or progresses to a higher level of understanding in the course of the story.
Protagonist
The main character in the story
Antagonist
The character or force that opposes the protagonist.
Foil
A character who provides a contrast to the protagonist.
MINOR CHARACTERS
Almost always flat or two-dimensional characters. They have only one or two stri ...
Elements of a Story Examples
Elements of a Story
Every story, or narrative, has five essential elements. Let's take a closer look at each of the five.
Examples of Elements of a Story:
Plot-Plot is "what happens" in the story. The action of every story can be mapped out using a plot diagram. There are five key points to the plot of every story:
1. Beginning or Exposition-this is when characters and problems are introduced to the reader. Example: Romeo and Juliet's families are enemies, but Romeo and Juliet meet at a party and like each other.
2. Rising Action-this is where the problem and characters are developed through a series of actions that builds to the . . .
Example: Romeo visits Juliet on a balcony one night, and then she sends a message to him through her nurse. They meet and secretly wed without their families' knowledge. Romeo kills Juliet's cousin Tybalt, and he is exiled. Juliet's father orders her to marry someone else. Juliet fakes her death, sending a message to Romeo to let him know, but he hears of her death and doesn't get the message.
3. Climax-this is where the problem (or conflict) is resolved in one way or another. The climax is often called the "turning point" in a story.
Example: Romeo kills himself, and Juliet wakes from her sleep, sees him, and kills herself.
4. Falling Action or Denoument-this is where the reader learns what happens as a result of the climax-or the way in which the problem was solved.
Example: The two families mourn Romeo and Juliet.
5. Resolution-where the entire plot is wrapped up and there is a sense of closure for the reader.
Example: Romeo and Juliet's deaths have ended their families' feud and there is peace in Verona.
Sample Plot Diagram:
Characters-Narratives have characters. A narrative has to have a protagonist, which is the main character in the story, and one or more antagonists, characters who are in conflict with the protagonist.
Example: Romeo and Juliet are the protagonists. Their conflict is with their families and their parents, especially Juliet whose parents wish her to marry someone else.
Conflict-For there to be a narrative, the main character, or protagonist, has to have a conflict, or problem. Sometimes the conflict involves the protagonist and another person (man versus man). Sometimes the conflict involves the protagonist and the environment or nature (man versus nature). At other times, the conflict involves the protagonist against himself (man versus self), as he attempts to overcome a weakness or flaw.
Example: Romeo and Juliet's conflict is that their families are in a feud, and they are not allowed to be with each other.
Setting-Narratives have a time and place where the action is set.
Example: Romeo and Juliet is set in Verona, Italy.
Theme-Narratives have a theme, or main idea/underlying meaning. Theme should be stated in a complete sentence.
For example, Romeo and Juliet is not just about "love," but you could state the theme as "Love overcomes hate
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Tesl 1034 literature
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