Elements of a Short Story

Question 1

Geographical location. Where is the action of the story taking place?

Answer 1

Place

Question 2

When is the story taking place? (historical period, time of day, year, etc.)

Answer 2

Time

Question 3

Is it rainy, sunny, stormy, etc.?
Social Conditions -What is the daily life of the characters like? Does the story contain local color (writing that focuses on the speech, dress, mannerisms, customs, etc. of a particular place)?

Answer 3

Weather Conditions

Question 4

What feeling is created at the beginning of the story? Is it bright and cheerful or dark and frightening?

Answer 4

Mood or Atmosphere

Question 5

a person, or sometimes even an animal, who takes part in the action of a short story or a piece of literary work.

Answer 5

Character

Question 6

those who are most important in the story

Answer 6

main characters -

Question 7

usually static or unchanging

Answer 7

minor characters -

Question 8

is the character with whom the reader empathizes

Answer 8

Protagonist

Question 9

is the character that goes against the protagonist

Answer 9

Antagonist

Question 10

a character that exhibits noticeable development

Answer 10

Dynamic

Question 11

a character who exhibits no changes and development

Answer 11

Static

Question 12

is a character that displays different/multiple personalities throughout the story

Answer 12

Round

Question 13

it is the character that reveals conventional traits; who remains the same throughout the story

Answer 13

Flat

Question 14

is the method used by the writer/author to reveal the personality of the character/s.

Answer 14

Characterization

Question 15

It is the sequence of events in a story or play.

Answer 15

Plot

Question 16

Moves with the natural sequence of events where actions are arranged sequentially.

Answer 16

Linear Plot

Question 17

A kind of plot where linear development of the story merges with an interruption in the chronological order to show an event that happened in the past.

Answer 17

Circular Plot

Question 18

A kind of plot where the story commences in the middle part of the action.

Answer 18

En Medias Res

Question 19

The beginning of the story where the characters and the setting is revealed.

Answer 19

Introduction

Question 20

This is where the events in the story become complicated and the conflict in the story is revealed (events between the introduction and climax).

Answer 20

Rising Action

Question 21

This is the highest point of interest and the turning point of the story. The reader wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be resolved or not?

Answer 21

Climax

Question 22

The events and complications begin to resolve themselves. The reader knows what has happened next and if the conflict was resolved or not (events between climax and denouement).

Answer 22

Falling Action

Question 23

This is the final outcome or untangling of events in the story.

Answer 23

Denoument

Question 24

is the opposition of forces which ties one incident to another and makes the plot move.

Answer 24

Conflict

Question 25

A struggle with a force outside one’s self.

Answer 25

External Conflict

Question 26

A struggle within one’s self; a person must make some decision, overcome pain, quiet their temper, resist an urge, etc.

Answer 26

Internal Conflict

Question 27

a type of conflict where one character in the story has a problem with one or more of the other characters

Answer 27

man vs. man (external)

Question 28

a type of conflict where a character has a conflict or problem with some element of society-the school, the law, the accepted way of doing things, and so on

Answer 28

man vs. society (external)

Question 29

a type of conflict where a character has a problem with some natural happening: snowstorm, typhoon, avalanche, bitter cold, or any elements common to nature

Answer 29

man vs. nature (external)

Question 30

is a type of conflict where a character has trouble deciding what to do in a particular situation

Answer 30

man vs. self (internal)

Question 31

The angle from which the story is told.

Answer 31

Point of View

Question 32

The story is told by the protagonist or one of the characters who interact closely with the protagonist or other characters (using pronouns I, me, we, etc).

Answer 32

First-Person POT

Question 33

The story is told so that the reader feels as if they are inside the head of one character and knows all their thoughts and reactions.

Answer 33

Stream of Consciousness

Question 34

The narrator tells the story from an all-knowing point of view. He can move from character to character, event to event, having free access to the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of his characters and he introduces information where and when he chooses.

Answer 34

Third-Person Omniscient POT (third-person)

Question 35

The theme is the controlling idea or the central insight

Answer 35

Theme

Question 36

It is the author’s underlying meaning or main idea that he is trying to convey.

Answer 36

Theme

Question 37

maybe the author’s thoughts about a topic or view of human nature.

Answer 37

theme