Elements Of A Short Story

Question 1

There are four elements of a short story:

Answer 1

Plot, character, setting, theme.

Question 2

What is plot?

Answer 2

The series of related events that make up a story.

Question 3

What are the 7 elements of plot (without descriptions)?

Answer 3

Motivation, conflict, complications, suspense, climax, outcome/result, denouement/explanation.

Question 4

Motivation:

Answer 4

The driving force that pushes the protagonist to achieve their goal.

Question 5

Conflict:

Answer 5

The major, big issue of the story.

Question 6

Complications

Answer 6

The minor issues.

Question 7

Suspense

Answer 7

Anxiety, build up of whether or not the protagonist will succeed.

Question 8

Climax

Answer 8

The main, highest point of intensity, a turning point. Antagonist vs. protagonist.

Question 9

Outcome/result

Answer 9

The outcome of the climax, aftermath, successful or not?

Question 10

Deneoument/Explanation

Answer 10

How everything comes together in the end whether you agree with it or not (no cliffhanger because it does not have a sequel).

Question 11

What are the 7 main types of character (without descriptions)?

Answer 11

Protagonist, antagonist, round, flat, dynamic, static, stock.

Question 12

Protagonist:

Answer 12

Main character who the reader identifies with and has a goal to achieve.

Question 13

Anatgonist

Answer 13

The character or force that opposes the protagonist.

Question 14

Round

Answer 14

Has many sides and has a complex personality (more than three characteristics).

Question 15

Flat

Answer 15

A minor character who is not developed.

Question 16

Dynamic

Answer 16

A character who does go through change.

Question 17

Static

Answer 17

A character who does not go through change.

Question 18

Stock

Answer 18

The stereotypical character.

Question 19

What does setting include?

Answer 19

The time and place in which the story takes place. You should always ask yourself the significance of the setting consider how the setting connects to the other elements or the story and what effects it has.

Question 20

What is theme?

Answer 20

The underlying message that the author is trying to convey. Is a generalization about life, universal so everyone can relate. When writing a theme, you write a thematic statement.

Question 21

First person

Answer 21

The story is told by the protagonist or another character that interacts closely with the protagonist or other characters. Uses I, me, we. The reader sees the story through this person’s eyes and only knows how he or she feels.

Question 22

Objective

Answer 22

The author tells the story in third person. There is no comment on the characters or their thoughts. The reader is a spectator and has to interpret events on their own.

Question 23

Limited omniscient

Answer 23

The story is told by a third person narrator but from the viewpoint of a character in the story. The reader has access to thoughts and feelings of only one character.

Question 24

Omniscient

Answer 24

Means all knowing. The point of view moves from character to character, event to event, having free acess to feelings, thoughts, and motivations of any character and information when they choose to.

Question 25

Three types of irony (without descriptions).

Answer 25

Dramatic irony, verbal irony, and situational irony.

Question 26

Dramatic irony

Answer 26

The audience is aware of something that the characters in the story are not aware of.

Question 27

Verbal irony

Answer 27

The use of words to mean something different than what the person actually says. Used intentionally. Different from sarcasm.

Question 28

Situational irony

Answer 28

The opposite of what is meant to happen, happens.

Question 29

Types of conflict:

Answer 29

Man vs Man, Man vs Environment, Man vs Self.