Definitions: Short Story Elements
1. Exposition: The introduction to a story that includes the description of the setting and the main characters
2. Rising Action: The reader is introduced to the main conflict and the events surrounding it leading to the climax
3. Climax: The turning point of a story; the highest point of action when the conflict comes to a head
4. Falling Action: The reader learns that there are solutions to the conflict and the characters work towards a resolution
5. Resolution: The end of the story where all of the plot lines are cleaned up and the conflict is resolved
6. Man vs Man: when a character is battling an opposing character
7. Man vs Nature: When a character is battling against a force of nature (hurricane, tsunami), animal, or infectious disease
8. Man vs Society: When a character is battling against a social construct/ idea (government, law, religion)
9. Man vs Self: When a character is battling with himself (making hard decision, right/ wrong, feelings)
10. 1st Person POV: When the narrator is telling the story. Unreliable/ biased narrator (I, me, we, us)
11: 2nd Person POV: When the reader is put directly into the action of the story (you)
12. 3rd Person Limited POV: When the narrator tells the story through the thoughts and actions of one character (he, she, it, they)
13. 3rd Person Omniscient POV: When the narrator tells the story through the thoughts and actions of all characters (he, she, it, they)
14. Protagonist: The main character of the story; opposition to the protagonist; often the good guy but not always
15. Antagonist: The character that opposes the protagonist; often the bad guy but not always
16. Setting: When and where the story takes place. Includes: year, time of year, time of day, place, clothing, traditions, transportation
17. Theme: the message to me from the reader, what the reader is supposed to learn from the story. It is always expressed in a complete sentence
2. Rising Action: The reader is introduced to the main conflict and the events surrounding it leading to the climax
3. Climax: The turning point of a story; the highest point of action when the conflict comes to a head
4. Falling Action: The reader learns that there are solutions to the conflict and the characters work towards a resolution
5. Resolution: The end of the story where all of the plot lines are cleaned up and the conflict is resolved
6. Man vs Man: when a character is battling an opposing character
7. Man vs Nature: When a character is battling against a force of nature (hurricane, tsunami), animal, or infectious disease
8. Man vs Society: When a character is battling against a social construct/ idea (government, law, religion)
9. Man vs Self: When a character is battling with himself (making hard decision, right/ wrong, feelings)
10. 1st Person POV: When the narrator is telling the story. Unreliable/ biased narrator (I, me, we, us)
11: 2nd Person POV: When the reader is put directly into the action of the story (you)
12. 3rd Person Limited POV: When the narrator tells the story through the thoughts and actions of one character (he, she, it, they)
13. 3rd Person Omniscient POV: When the narrator tells the story through the thoughts and actions of all characters (he, she, it, they)
14. Protagonist: The main character of the story; opposition to the protagonist; often the good guy but not always
15. Antagonist: The character that opposes the protagonist; often the bad guy but not always
16. Setting: When and where the story takes place. Includes: year, time of year, time of day, place, clothing, traditions, transportation
17. Theme: the message to me from the reader, what the reader is supposed to learn from the story. It is always expressed in a complete sentence
Visual Examples:
Plot Diagram: 3 Little Pigs
Points of View
Common Themes in Literature