Short Story Notes

There are four parts of a plot

1. Exposition 2. Rising action or complication 3. Climax 4. Denouement or resolution

Indirect

1. Showing the character acting and speaking 2. Giving a physical description of the character 3. Revealing the character's thoughts 4. Revealing what other characters think about the character

There are five parts of a short story

1.Theme 2.Plot 3.Setting 4.Characterization 5.Conflict

Conflict

A struggle that the main character must overcome.

What is a short story?

Any extended fictional prose.

Direct

Commenting directly on the character

Plot

Planned series of interrelated actions progressing because of the interplay of one force against another.

Characterization

The creation of imaginary characters so believable that they exist as real for the reader within the limits of fiction.

Setting

The physical background against which the action takes place

Theme

central or dominating idea in a work

Exposition

creates tone, gives setting, introduces characters, and supplies facts necessary to understand the story.

The Methods of Characterization

indirect and direct

Conflicts may be...

internal/external

Rising action or complication

is set in motion by the exciting force.

Denouement or resolution

occurs at the end of the story. The moment when the conflicts are resolved and the reader knows what is going to happen to the characters.

Conflicts are usually classified as

person versus person person versus nature person versus self

External

the conflict is against some outside force. The force can be either another character, society or a natural force.

Internal

the conflict takes place in the character's mind

Climax

the turning point in the story for the protagonist