Short Story Elements

Question 1

Define Plot

Answer 1

It is the series of events, producing a narrative with a beginning, middle, and end.

Question 2

What does plot involve?

Answer 2

• exposition, conflict, rising action, major crisis, climax, falling action, denouement (plot graph)
• flashback, foreshadowing, irony

Question 3

Define Setting

Answer 3

It is the environment or surrounding circumstances where the story takes place; time and place.
Also the “when” and “where” of the story.

Question 4

What does the setting involve?

Answer 4

• time of day, year, season, historical period,
  habitat, scenery
• setting contributes to mood and atmosphere

Question 5

Define characters

Answer 5

The people (or personified objects) in the story.

Question 6

Examples of characters

Answer 6

• protagonist, antagonist
• rounded out vs. stock characters

Question 7

What is the point of view?

Answer 7

• the perspective the author establishes to tell the story
• the voice telling the story (narrator)

Question 8

What are all of the different types of point of view

Answer 8

• omniscient point of view (3rd person)
• limited omniscient point of view (3rd person)
• objective point of view (3rd person)
• first-person point of view
• second-person point of view

Question 9

Imagery

Answer 9

• the creative use of language to descriptively represent things, people, setting, actions, abstract ideas
• word pictures that engage the five senses

Question 10

Types of imagery

Answer 10

• literal imagery
• figurative imagery (simile, metaphor, personification, allusion, oxymoron, alliteration, assonance, consonance, onomatopoeia)

Question 11

Literal Imagery vs Figurative Imagery

Answer 11

• Literal imagery is direct and realistic to create lucid visual images
• Figurative imagery is creative and evocative to invoke emotions and deeper meanings (uses figures of speech)

Question 12

Symbolism

Answer 12

It is the use of an object or idea to suggest/represent another object or idea. Symbols can be universal, cultural, or personal.

Question 13

Theme

Answer 13

• the controlling message of a text, usually an observation about life or human nature
• the why of the text, as in “why does this story matter?”

Question 14

How to find the theme

Answer 14

• The theme is supported by all the other elements working together
• Understand the author’s reason for producing the text on a general, emotional level

Question 15

When reading short stories, remember that…

Answer 15

• Things have to happen (plot) to some and some people (characters) in a certain time and place (setting).
• Someone has to be telling the readers about it (point of view, narrative voice) using artistic and thought-provoking language (imagery and symbolism).

Question 16

What do all of the elements of a short story help with?

Answer 16

• Helps readers contemplate and learn from the overarching central idea about society, the world, or human nature that the author has conveyed (theme).