H5 short stories - general info review

• Middelbare school

What is a short story?

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  

4 elements of a short story

The four elements of the short story 

Plot 

Setting 

Character 

Theme 

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 

 

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). 

Main characters
vs
secondary characters

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.

Theme =

Theme in Genesis and Catastrophe?

Theme

The central idea about life that the story highlights; 

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

Narrative hook =

Narrative hook

A statement or question that grabs the reader's attention

(part of building up suspense)

Narrative hook in:
Lamb to the Slaughter

Suspense =

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 

Climax

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). 

Resolution & Narrative twist =

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). 

Resolution in
Sredni Vashtar =

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

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

How does the writer build up suspense in :

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