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Elements of The Short Story Inter Metro

This document outlines key elements of short stories, including setting, plot, climax, and falling action. It discusses the five essential parts of plot: introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement. Four common plot structures are also described: episodic, hero's journey, mountain, and "W" plots. The document also mentions symbols, foils/motifs, archetypes/stereotypes/epitomes that are often used in short stories.

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17 views

Elements of The Short Story Inter Metro

This document outlines key elements of short stories, including setting, plot, climax, and falling action. It discusses the five essential parts of plot: introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement. Four common plot structures are also described: episodic, hero's journey, mountain, and "W" plots. The document also mentions symbols, foils/motifs, archetypes/stereotypes/epitomes that are often used in short stories.

Uploaded by

BoricuaKid
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Elements of the Short Story

Prof. C. Rodriguez
Setting
 Time
 Place
 Weather conditions
 Social / economic conditions
 Mood or atmosphere
PLOT – conventional definition
 The plot is how the author arranges events to
develop his basic idea; It is the sequence of
events in a story or play. The plot is a
planned, logical series of events having a
beginning, middle, and end. The short story
usually has one plot so it can be read in one
sitting.
There are five essential parts of
plot:
 a) Introduction - The beginning of the story
where the characters and the setting is
revealed.
 b) Rising Action - This is where the events
in the story become complicated and the
conflict in the story is revealed (events
between the introduction and climax).
Climax
 c) Climax - 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?
 It is helpful to consider climax as a three-fold
phenomenon: 1) the main character receives new
information 2) accepts this information (realizes it
but does not necessarily agree with it) 3) acts on
this information (makes a choice that will determine
whether or not he/she gains his objective).
Falling Action and Denouement
 d) Falling action - 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).
 e) Denouement - This is the final outcome
or untangling of events in the story.
Plot = action (plot structures)
1. Episodic – resembles real life) not adequate for short
story – mostly found in 18th century picaresque novels
1. Aristotelian Plots with reversals are examples
1. Reversals – good to bad fortune and vice versa creating climactic
moments
2. Discoveries – especially about themselves, their past, flaws,
motivations
3. Complications – a barrier between the character and the goal
or objective. Conflicts vs. efforts to resolve situations. Create
tension.
4. Catastrophe – emotional, or external to the character. The
character must deal with it.
5. Resolution – satisfactory / logical ending or introduction of a
deus ex machina device (unexpected, new element brought
into the action)
Plot = Action
 2. Hero’s Journey Plot
 1. common in fairy tales, folk tales, myths
 2. involves specific pattern of stages
 3. circular action
 Callto adventure – hero leaves
 Journey through unfamiliar world; testing of the hero
 Supreme ordeal
 Reward
 Return and reintegration in society

 Star Wars film


Plot = Action
 3. Mountain Plot
 Common in literary novels, short stories, independent film
 Increasingly significant mini-climactic moments
 Increasing tension
 Final climax
 1. beginning – tension begins to build
 2. Protagonist has first complication – plot takes downward turn
 3. protagonist overcomes and things get better
 4. steps 2 and 3 happen several times in the story
 5. climax – plot tension is resolved – protagonist is either successful
or fails to reach the objective
 6. a conclusion eases the reader after the climax
 Emma - novel by Jane Austen
Plot = Action
 4. The “W” Plot
 Common in pulp fiction, TV, Hollywood films
 Protagonist encounters a series of obstacles to achieving the
objective
 1. first barrier – protagonist begins to works toward the objective
and encounters first barrier
 2. first barrier reversal – things don’t look good, but protagonist
manages to conquer first barrier
 3. second barrier – at the high point of the action, just when
protagonist seems to reach the objective, second barrier appears
 4. Second barrier reversal – things are very grim, but the
protagonist has a second chance to achieve the objective.
 5. resolution – protagonist may or not be successful, ending
tragically or triumphantly.
Embedded Plot Structures
 Sub plots
 Combining
 Embedding
 Including reversals and mini climactic
moments
 Rhythm in tension and climax
Symbols
 Symbol = an item that stands for something
else, usually one physical and a concept
 Connotation
 It has significance in the story
 The story cannot have the same depth without it.
 Examples of Universal symbols: red = passion,
love, violence
 Black = evil, mystery, mourning
Foils / Motifs
 Foil = a character that serves as contrast to
the protagonist
 Points out specific character traits of the
protagonist
 Motifs = denote the recurrent presence of
certain character types, objects, settings, or
situations in diverse genres and periods
Examples of Motifs
 Swords, money, food, jewels, forests,
oceans, castles, dungeons, tests of skill or
wisdom, journeys, separations and reunions,
chaos brought to order
 Recurring elements that are used over time
in different cultures.
Archetypes / Stereotypes /
Epitomes
 Archetype = Prototype or ideal from which others
are copied
 “mother figure”
 Stereotype = derogatory generalization
 “dumb blonde”
 Epitome = the greatest example possible
 Mother Theresa
 Remember – it all depends on how it is used!

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