THE SHORT STORY

8-10-11

So what is a short story, anyway?

Lets SALSA!

(Daily Norms)

Show actions that facilitate learning for

the self and others.
Actively participate and be cognitively
present
Learn to be open to new learning
Set cell phone to OFF and Send it to your
backpack/purse
Act with a positive attitude and Accept
that failure is not an option!

Short Story
No, it is not a book shrunk down to fit
into the textbook.
A short story is a short piece of fiction
containing certain literary elements.
What are the literary elements? Well
Im so glad you asked!

LITTLE RED RIDING

HOOD
Lets look at the story of Little
Red Riding Hood as viewed
through the lens of the short
story terms.

CHARACTER
Characters are the actors in the storys
plot.
can be animals, people, or whatever the author
chooses

Protagonist
Main character

Antagonist
In conflict with the main character.
Not all stories have an antagonist

Characters in Little Red Riding

Hood

Little Red Riding Hood

The Grandmother
The Big Bad Wolf
The Huntsman

Protagonist: Little Red Riding Hood

Antagonist: The Big Bad Wolf

CONFLICT
A struggle between two opposing forces.
External conflict
between a character and an outside force,
such as another character, nature,or society.

Internal conflict
takes place within the mind of a character
who is torn between different
courses of action.

Conflict in Little Red Riding

Hood
External:
Conflict between Little Red Riding
Hood and the Big Bad Wolf.

Red questions the wolf

Will she outsmart the crafty
wolf, or will he eat her, as he
did her grandmother????

POINT OF VIEW

Relationship of narrator, or storyteller, to

the story
First-person. The narrator is a character in
the story and knows only his or her own
thoughts and experiences.
Third-person limited. The narrator reveals
the thoughts of only one character, referring
to that character as either he or she.
Third-person omniscient. The narrator
stands outside the story but knows and sees
all and comments on the action.

POINT OF VIEW
IN LITTLE RED RIDING
HOOD
Third Person Omniscient
Narrator explains what Little Red
Riding Hood is doing, what her
grandmother does, what the wolf
does and the huntsmans actions as
well. (narrator sees all, tells almost
all!)

SETTING
the time and place in which the
events occur.
Includes ideas, customs, values
and beliefs.

SETTING IN
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
The story takes place in the
woods in an unnamed country,
in a time long ago (but not
specified).

THEME
The main idea or message of a work of
literature.
The theme is an insight about life or human
nature.

Some works have a stated theme, where

the author directly expresses the point.
Some stories have an implied theme.
Through various literary elements, such as
plot, character, setting, point of view ,or
symbolism, the author reveals the theme.

THEME IN
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
IMPLIED
Theme isnt stated (the author
doesnt come out and say this)
Be suspicious of anything that
appears other than it should (ie
Grandmother with great big
TEETH!)

PLOT
The sequence of events in a story

PLOT SEQUENCE

exposition

introduces storys setting, characters and

conflict

Rising action

Occurs as the conflict develops complications.

climax

The emotional high point of the story.

falling action

The logical result of the climax

resolution

the final outcome is revealed

PLOT SEQUENCE IN LITTLE

RED RIDING HOOD

exposition

LRRH has fixed a basket of goodies for her grandmother &

is traveling through the woods to visit her.

Rising action

BBW sees LRRH, runs to Gs house, eats G, lays in wait for

LRRH. LRRH sits by Gs (really BBW) bed, talking to her,
asking questions.

climax

LRRH asks about the big teeth, and the BBG eats her.

falling action

The huntsman arrives, sees BBW dressed like Granny.

resolution

H. kills the BBW, and LRRH and G pop out, safe and sound!

Your turn now!

Get into a group of 5
Each member choose which number you are going
to be 1-5
Using a childrens story, answer the following:

1. exposition
2. Rising action
3. climax
4. falling action
5. Resolution
Then, as a group, you will fill out the rest.
Each group will present their story at the end
of the time