H5 short stories - general info review

What is a short story?
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Slide 1: Open question
Middelbare school

This lesson contains 23 slides, with interactive quizzes and text slides.

Items in this lesson

What is a short story?

Slide 1 - Open question

Short story

A brief, imaginative narrative containing few characters, simple plot, conflict, and suspense which leads to a climax and a swift conclusion. 

Can be read in one sitting  

Slide 2 - Slide

4 elements of a short story

Slide 3 - Open question

The four elements of the short story 
Plot 

Setting 

Character 

Theme 

Slide 4 - Slide

Elements of the Plot - no. 3 Rising action
Rising action can include:

  • Foreshadowing: a technique for hinting at events that may occur later in the plot. 

  • Flashback: the insertion of an earlier event into the time order of a narrative.  

  • Conflict: it is what prevents the main character from getting what he or she wants. The plot is driven by climax and it is the most important feature of the story 

        There are two types of conflicts: the internal conflict (PERSON VS. SELF) and the external conflict (PERSON VS. PERSON;          PERSON VS. SOCIETY; PERSON VS. FATE etc.

  • Suspense: the feeling of excitement and curiosity that keeps the reader turning the pages; created by making the readers wonder how the conflict will be resolved 

 

Slide 5 - Slide

Elements of the Plot 
The plot is the chain of events in a story. It consists of 6 main ingredients: 

1) Introduction/Exposition introduces the reader to:  Setting / Basic situation /  Characters involved /Narrative hook: question or statement that grabs the reader’s attention 
2) Inciting incident: the first major action in the story that sets the story in motion (gets the ball rolling). 
3) Rising action: incidents which carry the plot along. It often includes the following * (see next slide)
4) Climax: the highest point of interest in the story when the character(s) solves his/her struggles. It is usually the point of highest emotion. The climax can be subjective (there may be different answers, so you must prove your choice). 
5) Falling Action: the character completes the action of his/her decision. 
6) Resolution: the final workings of a story’s conflict. All of the loose ends are tied up (usually). It can have a narrative twist: a surprise ending (the O. Henry twist). 

Slide 6 - Slide

Main characters
vs
secondary characters

Slide 7 - Open question

Main vs secondary characters
Protagonist: usually the “good guy” or hero in the story, the main character that we follow, the character that strives to solve the conflict. 

Antagonist: the “bad guy” or villain in the story, he/she usually creates conflict for the main character. 

Secondary characters: other characters who are necessary to moving the plot along, but may not be involved with the central conflict. 

The main characters are the protagonist and antagonist. They are both involved in the conflict (the protagonist and antagonist solve and create a conflict respectively).

Secondary characters are not involved in the conflict, just move the story along.

Slide 8 - Slide

Theme =

Theme in Genesis and Catastrophe?

Slide 9 - Open question

Theme
The central idea about life that the story highlights; 

the main idea (universal truths). The message the author is conveying. 

Slide 10 - Slide

Narrative hook =

Slide 11 - Open question

Narrative hook

A statement or question that grabs the reader's attention
(part of building up suspense)

Slide 12 - Slide

Narrative hook in:
Lamb to the Slaughter

Slide 13 - Open question

Suspense =

Slide 14 - Open question

Suspense

the feeling of excitement and curiosity that keeps the reader turning the pages; 

created to make readers wonder how the conflict will be resolved 

Slide 15 - Slide

Climax

Slide 16 - Open question

Climax
the highest point of interest in the story when the character(s) solves his/her struggles. 

It is usually the point of highest emotion. 

The climax can be subjective (there may be different answers, so you must prove your choice). 

Slide 17 - Slide

Resolution & Narrative twist =

Slide 18 - Open question

Resolution & Narrative twist
Resolution: the final workings of a story’s conflict. All of the loose ends are tied up (usually). 

It can have a narrative twist: a surprise ending (the O. Henry twist). 

Slide 19 - Slide

Resolution in
Sredni Vashtar =

Slide 20 - Open question

What is the Narrative twist in:
Lamb to the Slaughter / the Lottery?

Slide 21 - Open question

Why is the climax of Genesis and Catastrophe not at the end?

Slide 22 - Open question

How does the writer build up suspense in :

The Lottery/Genesis & Catastrophe/
Mr. Know-all?

Slide 23 - Open question