Introduction to short stories

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5

 Objectives

Short Stories

Understanding :

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

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

Four elements Short Story

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

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

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.

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

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.)

Element 3 - Characters

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

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
  

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

Lamb to the Slaughter

Read together

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