Unpacking the Elements of Short Stories

Unpacking the Elements of Short Stories

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to explain and apply the elements of a short story.

Introduce the learning objective and explain how the lesson will be structured.

What do you already know about the elements of a short story?

What is a Short Story?

A short story is a fictional piece of prose that is shorter than a novel and typically focuses on one event, character, or incident.

Define what a short story is and provide examples.

Setting

Setting includes the time, place, and atmosphere in which the story takes place. It helps to create a sense of mood and tone.

Explain what setting is and provide examples. Ask students to identify the setting in a short story.

Characters

Characters are the people or animals in the story. They can be major or minor, and can be dynamic or static.

Discuss the different types of characters and ask students to identify them in a short story. Provide examples.

Plot

Plot is the sequence of events that make up the story. It typically includes an exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Explain the different parts of the plot and ask students to identify them in a short story. Provide examples.

Theme

Theme is the underlying message or meaning of the story. It can be a universal idea or a lesson that the reader can learn.

Discuss how to identify the theme of a short story and provide examples. Ask students to identify the theme of a short story.

Point of View

Point of view is the perspective from which the story is told. It can be first person, second person, or third person.

Explain the different types of point of view and ask students to identify them in a short story. Provide examples.

Symbolism

Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. It can be objects, actions, or images that represent something else.

Discuss how to identify symbolism in a short story and provide examples. Ask students to identify symbols in a short story.

Mood and Tone

Mood and tone are the atmosphere and emotion that the story creates. They can be created through setting, characters, and language.

Discuss how mood and tone are created in a short story and provide examples. Ask students to identify the mood and tone of a short story.

Application

Apply the elements of short stories to analyze a short story of your choice.

Provide a short story for students to analyze using the elements discussed in the lesson. Encourage students to work together and share their analysis with the class.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.