Grade 10 Short Stories

Elements of a Short Story

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​Learning About Short Storie

A short story is a brief work of fiction.

The events that make up the action: introduction, rising action, climax,

and falling action.

​

​

​Plot

​Conflict

• ​External conflict: a struggle between two characters, a character and a group, or a character and a force

• Internal conflict: a struggle within the mind of a character

​Character

An individual who participates in the action.

• Direct characterization: developed through statements about a

character’s personality, habits, goals, values, or beliefs

• Indirect characterization: developed through a character’s words,

thoughts, actions, and interaction

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​Setting

The time and place of the action

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​Theme

The central message or insight about life in a story

• Stated theme: expressed directly by the author

• Implied theme: suggested indirectly through characters’ experiences or events and setting

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Match

Match the following

• Julian was painfully shy.

• “I refuse to babysit Taisha tonight!” Frida told her mother.

• The house was cold and gloomy in the winter wind.

• Be careful what you wish for; you just might get it.

• People looked through Bobby as if he did not exist.

direct characterization

external conflict

setting

stated theme

indirect characterization

• direct characterization

• external conflict

• setting

• stated theme

• indirect characterization

Match

Match the following

• Mindy worried about whether to invite Luisa.

• At last, summer had come. We had two whole months of freedom.

• “The wind is too strong!” I shouted. “I cannot control the boat!”

• “Carmen can dish it out, but she sure cannot take it,” Sammy said.

internal conflict

setting

external conflict

indirect characterization

• internal conflict

• setting

• external conflict

• indirect characterization