Introduction to short stories

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Slide 1: Slide
EngelsMiddelbare schoolhavoLeerjaar 5

This lesson contains 20 slides, with interactive quizzes and text slides.

time-iconLesson duration is: 100 min

Items in this lesson

Slide 1 - Slide

 Objectives
Short Stories
Understanding :
  • what short stories are & their characteristics (plot/setting/characters/theme)
  • Reading and understanding Lamb to the Slaughter




Slide 2 - Slide

Short story
  • A brief, imaginative narrative containing:
few characters, 
simple plot, 
conflict, 
suspense, 
swift conclusion.

  • Can be read in one sitting

  • Short short story = 3-5 pages / Short story = 10-12 pages / Long short story = up to 20 pages

Slide 3 - Slide

Slide 4 - Slide

Four elements Short Story

  1. Plot
  2. Setting
  3. Characters
  4. Theme

Slide 5 - Slide

Plot - definition
Chain of events in a story, consisting of 6 elements:
 
  1. exposition
  2. inciting incident
  3. rising action
  4. climax
  5. falling action
  6. resolution

Slide 6 - Slide

Element 1 - Plot (6 parts)

A) Exposition: introduces the reader to 
  • setting (when/where/basic situatio)
  • characters
  • narrative hook

B) Inciting incident: the first major action in the story that sets the story in motion

C) Rising action: incidents that carry the plot along:
  • Foreshadowing: a literary device that hints at events occurring later on in the plot
  • Flashback: a literary device that inserts an earlier event in the timeline; that looks back at a past event 
  • Conflict: what prevents the main character from getting what (s)he wants
  • Internal conflict: person vs self
  • External conflict: person vs person/society/environment/technology/fate etc.




Slide 7 - Slide

Element 1 - Plot (6 parts)

D) Climax - the highest point of interest in the story when the character solves his/her struggles; highest point of emotion
    

E) Falling action - The character completes the action of his/her decision


F) Resolution - the final workings of the story's conflict; all loose ends are (usually) tied up here.
     There can be a narrative twist = a surprise ending




Slide 8 - Slide

Element 2 - Setting (when/where/mood/atmosphere)

When and where does the story take place

When = present/past/future; time of day; season
Where = country, planet, town, building, surroundings 

Both create:
1) mood = the writer's attitude towards the subject (NOT the characters' mood)
2) atmosphere = the feeling the setting evokes (mysterious, happy, eerie etc.)

Slide 9 - Slide

Slide 10 - Slide

Slide 11 - Slide

Element 3 - Characters


  1. What types of characters are there in a short story?
  2. What are their roles in the plot?

Slide 12 - Slide

Element 3 - Characters

  • Protagonist - "good guy - person audience is rooting for", main character that solves conflict

  • Antagonist - "bad buy - person audience wants to fail", creates conflict for the main character

  • Secondary characters - move the plot along, may not be involved in conflict

Slide 13 - Slide

Element 4 - Theme
Theme = 
a central idea about life the story highlights
the main idea (universal truths)
(i.e. love/hate/revenge/coming of age/innocence/death etc.)

Look at: 
conflict & 
what side of the conflict the story represents
how is the conflict resolved (who wins and who loses)

Slide 14 - Slide

Little Red Riding Hood - Theme
Theme = 
a central idea about life the story highlights
the main idea (universal truths)
(i.e. love/hate/revenge/coming of age/innocence/death etc.)

Themes: Trust/Innocence vs deception
Moral: don't trust strangers/obey your parents/rely on your internal warning system


Look at: 
conflict & 
what side of the conflict the story represents
how is the conflict resolved (who wins and who loses)

Slide 15 - Slide

Literary devices
Irony:
when the speaker means the opposite of what (s)he says (for humorous effect)
"Don't go overboard with the gratitude" she said to her unthankful husband.

Dramatic irony:
the audience or reader knows what is going to happen but the character (play/novel) doesn't


Slide 16 - Slide

What is the exactly the difference between a short short story and a longer short story?

Slide 17 - Open question

The 4 elements of a short story are
Plot / Setting / Characters / Theme.
Explain plot and theme.

Slide 18 - Open question

The 6 elements of a plot are:
1) exposition 2)inciting incident 3) rising action
4) climax 5) falling action 6)resolution
Explain 1 & 4

Slide 19 - Open question

Lamb to the Slaughter
Read together


Write down plenty of notes during reading/explanation in your booklet



Slide 20 - Slide