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Elements of Short Story Setting

The document discusses the key elements of a short story, including setting, character, plot, conflict, theme, and point of view. It defines setting as the time and place of the story. Character is described as the protagonist and antagonist, and how characters' qualities are revealed. Plot involves the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Conflict is the problem that drives the plot, which can be internal or external. Theme is the central message of the story. Point of view explains who is telling the story from the first, second, or third person perspective.

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Rezel C. Perez
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36 views

Elements of Short Story Setting

The document discusses the key elements of a short story, including setting, character, plot, conflict, theme, and point of view. It defines setting as the time and place of the story. Character is described as the protagonist and antagonist, and how characters' qualities are revealed. Plot involves the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Conflict is the problem that drives the plot, which can be internal or external. Theme is the central message of the story. Point of view explains who is telling the story from the first, second, or third person perspective.

Uploaded by

Rezel C. Perez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A short story is a work of short, narrative prose that is usually centered around

one single event. It is limited in scope and has an introduction, body and conclusion.

ELEMENTS OF SHORT STORY

SETTING

Setting is a description of where and when the story takes place. It represents both the
physical location and also the time (i.e. past, present, future) and the social and cultural
conditions in which the characters exist. Authors often use descriptions of landscape,
scenery, buildings, seasons or weather to provide a strong sense of setting.

CHARACTER

There are two meanings for the word “character”:

1. It is the person/people in a fictional story

The person/people in a work of fiction can be:

PROTOGONIST- is the "main character" of the story involved in the main


conflict. All major events are important to this character.

ANTAGONIST- is the opponent or "enemy" of the main character.

2. It is the qualities and characteristics of a person/people in a fictional story.

Qualities and characteristics of a character can be revealed through:

 His/Her physical appearance


 What he/she feels, thinks, dreams, hopes
 What others say about him/her, and how others react to him or her

 Direct Characterization- The writer tells the audience what the personality
of the character is. Example: “The patient boy and quiet girl were both well
mannered and did not disobey their mother.
 Indirect Characterization- The writer shows things that reveal the
personality of a character. There are 5 different methods of indirect
characterization:
 Speech – What does the character say? How does the
character speak?
 Thoughts – What is revealed through the character’s private
thoughts and feelings?
 Effect on others- What is revealed through the character’s
effect on other people? How do the characters feel or
behave in reaction to the character?
 Actions- What does the character do/behave? Looks- What
does the character look like?
 Looks- What does the character look like?

PLOT

It is the organized pattern or sequence of events that make up a story. The plot is
a planned, logical series of events having a beginning, middle, and end. The short story
usually has one plot so it can be read in one sitting.

There are five essential parts of plot:

 Exposition - introduction; characters, setting and conflict (problem) are


introduced
 Rising Action- events that occur as result of central conflict
 Climax- highest point of interest or suspense of a story
 Falling Action - tension eases; events show the results of how the main
character begins to resolve the conflict
 Resolution- loose ends are tied up; the conflict is solved.

CONFLICT

It is a problem that must be solved; an issue between the protagonist and antagonist
forces. It forms the basis of the plot.

Conflicts can be external or internal

 External conflict- outside force may be person, group, animal, nature, or a


nonhuman obstacle
 Internal conflict- takes place in a character’ s mind

Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is
no plot.

 Internal- Struggle within one's self.

• Character vs. Self - Struggles with own soul, physical limitations, choices, etc. o

 External - Struggle with a force outside one's self.

• Character vs. Character - Struggles against other people.


• Character vs. Nature - Struggles against animals, weather, environment, etc.

• Character vs. Society - Struggles against ideas, practices, or customs of


others.

THEME

Central message, "moral of the story," and underlying meaning of a fictional


piece. It is a the practical lesson ( moral) that we learn from a story after we read it. The
lesson that teaches us what to do or how to behave after you have learned something
from a story or something that has happened to you.

POINT OF VIEW

It is the perspective from which a narrative is told. It indicates who is telling the
story and how the information is being filtered to the audience. Writers may choose to
tell their story from one of three perspectives:

 First person employs the I or we pronouns


 Second person is told through the pronoun, you
 Third Person uses he, she, and they.

First person point of view. First person is when “I” am telling the story. The character is
in the story, relating his or her experiences directly.

Second person point of view. The story is told to “you.” This POV is not common in
fiction, but it’s still good to know (it is common in nonfiction).

Third person point of view. The story is about “he” or “she.” This is the most common
point of view in commercial fiction. The narrator is outside of the story and relating the
experiences of a character.

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