Short Story Elements

Question 1

Setting:

Time

Answer 1

When is the story taking place? (Historical period, time of day, year)

Question 2

Setting:

Weather conditions

Answer 2

Is it raining, sunny, or stormy?

Question 3

Setting:

Social conditions

Answer 3

Is there a war going on? Some kind of social issue? Civil rights movement?

Question 4

Plot:

Exposition

Answer 4

The beginning of the story where the character and the setting are revealed.

Question 5

Plot:

Inciting Incident

Answer 5

This is the trigger where the conflict is introduced and leads to the rising action.

Question 6

Plot:

Rising action

Answer 6

This is where the events in the story become complicated and the conflict in the story is revealed.

Question 7

Plot:

Climax

Answer 7

The climax is the crucial part of the story. It is the part which determines the outcome of the conflict.

Question 8

Plot:

Falling action

Answer 8

It is the series of events which take place after the climax. The falling action leads to the conclusion.

Question 9

Plot:

Final resolution

Answer 9

It is the part of a story which occurs after the climax. The resolution establishes the new way things are going to be from then on.

Question 10

What are the different types of conflict?

Answer 10

Person vs. person, self, society, nature, God/ fate/ supernatural

Question 11

Character:

Protagonist

Answer 11

Central to the story with all major events having some importance to this character.

Question 12

Character;

Antagonist

Answer 12

The person who opposes the main character.

Question 13

Characteristics of a person:

How can an author reveal a character?

Answer 13

• physical appearance
• what he/she thinks, says, or feels
• what he/she does it does not do
• what others say about him/her and how others react to him/her

Question 14

Characters are:

Rounded

Answer 14

Many different sides and complex personality. The character’s personality can change, good or bad, by the end of the story.

Question 15

Characters are:

Flat

Answer 15

Personality does not change, can be a stereotype, and may have one or two characteristics emphasized.

Question 16

Point of view:

First person

Answer 16

The story is told by the main character or one of the characters close to the main character.

Question 17

Point of View:

Third person

Answer 17

The author narrates the story. The author can move from character to character, event to event, having free access to the thoughts, actions, and motivations of the character.

Question 18

Theme:

Answer 18

It is the controlling idea, and there can be more than one.

Question 19

Personal narrative:

Answer 19

In a personal narrative the climax can be called the turning point. The turning point is when the character has an epiphany (important realization)

Question 20

Setting:

Place

Answer 20

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