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5 Elements of A Short Story

The key elements of a short story are characters, setting, plot, theme, and conflict. Characters are developed through descriptions, actions, dialogue, thoughts, and what others say about them. Setting provides the time and place of the story. Plot follows a pattern of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and conclusion. Theme expresses a central idea or message, while conflict is the problem or struggle faced by the main character.

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Imee Tible
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344 views

5 Elements of A Short Story

The key elements of a short story are characters, setting, plot, theme, and conflict. Characters are developed through descriptions, actions, dialogue, thoughts, and what others say about them. Setting provides the time and place of the story. Plot follows a pattern of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and conclusion. Theme expresses a central idea or message, while conflict is the problem or struggle faced by the main character.

Uploaded by

Imee Tible
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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5 Important

Elements of a
Short Story
The 5 key elements that make up a short story are:
Characters
Setting
Conflict
Theme
Plot

1
Character
 A character is a person, or sometimes an
animal, who takes part in the action of a
short story or other literary work.
 Characters and how we get to know them:
 Through the author’s physical description of them
 Through their actions
 Through their words (dialogue)
 Through their inner thoughts
 Through what other characters say and think
about them

2
Setting
 Setting is the time and
place that a story
occurs.
 Authors often use
descriptions of
landscape, scenery,
buildings, seasons or
weather to provide a
strong sense of setting.

3
Theme
 Theme is the meaning behind events
and characters’ actions in a story.
 The theme is the central idea, message,
or purpose in a short story.
 A theme can be expressed as a general
statement about people or life.
 It is NOT plot summary.
 It can be either directly or indirectly
stated by the author. Most likely
indirectly.
4
Conflict
 Conflict is any of the problems that a character
encounters in a story.
 The conflict is a struggle between two people or
things in a short story.
 The main character is on one side of the main
conflict.
 Conflicts can be:
 1. External – conflict with others and with nature
 2. Internal – conflict within themselves
 The main character may struggle:
 against another important character
 against the forces of nature
 against society
 against something inside himself or herself (feelings,
emotions, illness).

5
Plot
 Plot is a pattern of events that develop
from the interactions between characters.
 A plot is a series of events and character
actions that relate to the central conflict.
 There are 5 elements of plot:
 Exposition
 Rising Action
 Climax
 Falling Action
 Conclusion

6
Plot Diagram
5 Elements of Plot

7
Exposition
 The start or introduction of the story.
 The background information that the
reader must have in order to
understand the story.
 This is where characters and setting
are introduced.

8
Rising Action
 All of the events that take place
leading up to the climax.
 This is where the reader is
introduced to the conflict.

9
Climax
 The most exciting part of the story.
 The turning point in the story.
 Here the story is turned in a
different direction, toward the
conclusion.

10
Falling Action
 The immediate reaction to the
climax.
 All the actions that occur after the
climax and before the conclusion of
the story.

11
Resolution
 The conclusion of the
plot.
 Loose ends are tied
up.
 There might not be a
clear resolution. This
is called a cliffhanger
ending.

12

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