Short Story Theory

Question 1

What are the 4 elements in a short story?

Answer 1

• Plot
• Characters
• Setting
• Theme

Question 2

What is the plot?

Answer 2

The sequence of events and what happens.

Question 3

What are the 7 Elements of the Plot

Answer 3

• Motivation
• Conflict
• Complication
• Suspense
• Climax
• Outcome
• Denouement

Question 4

What happens in the Motivation?

Answer 4

It says why something happens or why they do it

Question 5

What happens in the Conflict?

Answer 5

An opposing force. A problem the character faces

Question 6

What happens in the Complication?

Answer 6

The conflict causes the complication. An intensification of the conflict in a story or play

Question 7

What is the Suspense?

Answer 7

Wondering what will happen next

Question 8

What is the Climax?

Answer 8

Where the conflict is confronted and begins to be resolved

Question 9

What is the Outcome?

Answer 9

The result of the Climax. What happens after the main problem was solved

Question 10

What is the Denouement?

Answer 10

An explanation of what happens afterwards

Question 11

How do you find the theme of a story?

Answer 11

Find out who changed and why

Question 12

What are the 7 types of characters?

Answer 12

• Flat
• Dynamic
• Stock
• Round
• Protagonist
• Antagonist
• Static

Question 13

What is a Flat character?

Answer 13

A character with very few traits. We don’t know a lot about them

Question 14

What is a Dynamic character?

Answer 14

A character that undergoes a change

Question 15

What is a Stock character?

Answer 15

A stereotypical character (dumb jock, dumb blonde)

Question 16

What is a Round character?

Answer 16

A well developed character with a lot of traits

Question 17

What is the Protagonist?

Answer 17

The person who sets out to achieve a goal

Question 18

What is the Antagonist?

Answer 18

The opposing force that stops the protagonist from reaching their goal

Question 19

What is a Static character?

Answer 19

A character that stays the same and does not change

Question 20

What is the setting?

Answer 20

The time and place

Question 21

What are the 2 components of the setting?

Answer 21

The Mood and the Atmosphere

Question 22

What is the Mood?

Answer 22

The feeling of the character and how it makes you feel

Question 23

What is the Atmosphere?

Answer 23

The physical surroundings, like the setting

Question 24

What is the Theme?

Answer 24

A generalization about life

Question 25

When explaining a Theme what do you usually start with?

Answer 25

• Most people
• Sometimes
• Often times

Question 26

What is Irony?

Answer 26

The appearance of something verses the reality of something

Question 27

What are the 3 types of Irony?

Answer 27

• Verbal
• Dramatic
• Situational

Question 28

What is Verbal Irony?

Answer 28

Saying one thing but meaning another. Tone of voice

Question 29

What is Dramatic Irony?

Answer 29

When 1 or more characters are unaware of the situation

Question 30

What is situational irony?

Answer 30

When something unexpected happens with a twist

Question 31

What are the Points of View?

Answer 31

• First Person
• Limited omniscient
• Omniscient
• Objective

Question 32

What is First person point of view?

Answer 32

They use ‘I’. A participant. But cannot see into their mind

Question 33

What is Limited Omniscient?

Answer 33

Can enter one characters mind. Uses he/she

Question 34

What is Omniscient?

Answer 34

Can enter all characters minds. Uses he/she

Question 35

What is Objective POV?

Answer 35

Can’t see into the mind or body of anybody. Almost as if a camera is recording the action.

Question 36

What is a stereotyped character?

Answer 36

A stock character