5 Important Elements of a Short Story

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A short story is a short work of fiction.

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Fiction is prose writing about imagined events and characters.

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Prose writing differs from poetry.

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Prose does not depend on verses, meters, or rhymes for its organization and presentation.

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Novels are longer than short stories.

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Some short stories can be quite long, and if they are fifty to one hundred pages, they are called novellas.

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American literature contains some of the world's best short stories.

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Notable authors include O. Henry, Stephen Crane, Jack London, Mark Twain, and Edgar Allen Poe.

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The five key elements of a short story are:

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character, setting, conflict, plot, and theme.

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A character is a person or animal in a short story.

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Characters take part in the action of the story.

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The setting of a short story is the time and place it happens.

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Authors use descriptions of landscape, scenery, buildings, seasons, or weather to create a strong sense of setting.

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A plot is a series of events and character actions.

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These relate to the central conflict of the story.

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Conflict is a struggle between two people or things.

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The main character is usually on one side of the central conflict.

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The main character may struggle against various forces.

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These can include another character, nature, society, or internal feelings.