Elements Of A Short Story -

Short stories have always been among the worlds favorite literature. From classic works to modern tales, from comedies to tragedies, from long short stories to flash fiction, and everything in between, short stories never cease to rouse emotions and provoke questions. Though short stories greatly vary, what they have in common are the five basic elements of a short story. Knowing these elements helps enrich your reading experience and strengthens your skills in writing literary analysis.SettingOne of the elements of a short story is the setting. This generally refers to the time and place in which the story happens. The number of settings featured in a short story varies. Whereas some may feature only one place in a single point in time, others may feature more and may even shift between places and time periods. Note, though, that the concept of setting extends beyond the place and time. Setting may also refer to the circumstances that exist in the place and in that particular point in time. More than serving as the backdrop, the setting can be an influential element as it can affect what happens in the story. For example, the hostile weather in Jack Londons To Build a Fire affects the life of the character just as strongly as the neighborhood impacts the characters views in Willa Cathers Pauls Case. CharacterCharacter can be defined as an individual who takes part in the action. This individual can be human, such as in the case of Emily Grierson in William Faulkners A Rose for Emily; or animal, such as the elephant in George Orwells Shooting an Elephant; or even supernatural, such as the mermaid in Hans Christian Andersens The Little Mermaid. Central characters often face a certain problem, undergo a journey, or simply become transformed by the events that take place. What makes them important is that readers usually relate to or identify with them. When reading short stories, it is useful to observe what the characters think or do and how they eventually chan ge over time.ConflictAnother element is known as the conflict, which is basically the struggle between opposing forces. The conflict is often related to the character in that the character is usually involved in a struggle. Therefore, the conflict can influence the characters actions. For instance, a character may take action in order to resolve an existing conflict. Conflict can be categorized as either internal or external. Internal conflict happens when the struggle exists within the character, such as when the character has conflicting emotions or desires. For instance, Louise Mallard in Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour is torn between the grief of losing her husband and the joy of freedom as a widowed woman. By contrast, an external conflict takes place between the character and another individual (such as person, animal, thing, or nature). The struggle between detective C. Auguste Dupin and Minister D in Edgar Allan Poes The Purloined Letter is an example of an external confl ict, since each must outwit the other.PlotThe plot, as one of the elements of a short story, refers to the series of events and actions that move the conflict along. The plot is basically composed of five phases.The Exposition is the first phase which serves as an introduction to other element such as the characters, setting, or conflict. Sometimes, the conflict is presented just after the first phase.The Rising Action refers to the phase wherein the events begin to pick up. In this phase, the characters may address minor conflicts with the goal of resolving the main conflict.The Climax is the high point of the story and often features actions or events that will determine the fate of the characters or the resolution of the conflict. For instance, the protagonist may face mortal danger at this point or make an irreversible decision.The fourth phase is the Falling Action, which involves the events that lead towards the resolution of the conflict. The results of the actions taken in t he previous phase are presented in this stage.Finally, the Resolution is the last part. In this phase, the conflict may be fully resolved and what happens to the characters may be show. Sometimes, the resolution may also offer an ending thats open to interpretation or hints at the future.ThemeThe theme is the main idea that the story conveys. In other words, the theme is the message the story wishes to reveal to the reader. A theme can come in different forms, but oftentimes it is a comment about human nature or society or a moral. It is important to note that the theme is different from the topic. For instance, a short storys topic may be about love, but love is not necessarily the theme. Simply put, a theme is a statement about the topic. For example, the topic of O. Henrys The Gift of the Magi is love, but the theme is this statement about how love is expressed through selfless devotion. As literature continues to evolve, writers also come up with new ways of using these elements to produce new works. But as these elements are basic components of short stories, being familiar with them can benefit both reading for work and reading for leisure.Essay writing help for studentsThere will come a time when your imagination is just so full of thoughts, both profound and mundane, that you would not be able to resist the desire to write your first short story. If that day comes, be sure to refer to this post. If you are in college and in need of a guide, this post will also come handy. 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