Elements of a Short Story

Multiple Choice

What are the key elements that make up a short story?

• Character development

• Setting

• Plot structure

• All of the above

Multiple Select

What are the key characteristics of a short story?

• A brief work of fiction

• Typically 1,000 to 10,000 words

• Can be read in one sitting

• Focuses on multiple plots

Multiple Choice

Both novels and short stories contain the following:

• setting and characters

• plot and mood

• a theme

• all of the above

Multiple Choice

What are the main components of a plot in a story?

• Exposition

• Climax

• Falling action

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

What is the Falling Action of a story?

• Events that happen after the climax that lead to a resolution or ending to the story

• Involves a struggle between two opposing forces usually between the protagonist and an antagonist

• A message or lesson about life or human nature that the writer shares with the reader.

• Character or a group of characters which stand in opposition to the protagonist or the main character.

Multiple Choice

Setting is the ___________________ of the action of the story. 

• internal conflict
• resolution

• time and place
• plot

Open Ended

How does point of view affect your understanding of a story?

Open Ended

What's an example of a memorable conflict from a short story you've read?

Multiple Choice

What are the two types of internal conflict described in the image?

• Person vs. Idea

• Person vs. Self

• Person vs. Society

• Person vs. Nature

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of indirect characterization?

• Marcia was a good listener and wonderful friend.
• Marcia felt the knot in her stomach grow when she saw the number of questions on the test and she tugged her hair anxiously. 
• Marcia was a nervous person.
• Marcia was an optimist who always believed the best about people.

Multiple Choice

Imagine you are going to a fitness center to work out. You see a person choosing to use the elevator to reach the gym located on the second floor instead of taking the stairs. What would you call this situation?

• Personification

• Dramatic Irony

• Verbal Irony

• Situational Irony

Multiple Choice

What word best captures the following example taken from Elie Wiesel's Night?

“We were to leave the train here. There was a labor camp on site. The conditions were good. Families would not be separated.”

• situational irony

• verbal irony

• dramatic irony

• adage

Open Ended

WHAT TYPE OF IRONY IS FOUND IN THE PARAGRAPH BELOW? IDENTIFY THE TYPE THEN EXPLAIN YOUR CHOICE (How do you know it's that type of irony?)

Lawrence was sweeping up the trimmings at the barbershop when he saw the circus posters. He knew right away that he would be taking his little cousins. They loved animals and Lawrence was looking forward to seeing the smiles on their faces. This trip was going to cost him though, and sweeping up hair clippings didn't pay a whole lot. Yet he saved until he had the 45 dollars to get the tickets. When he saw his cousins' faces, the price seemed like a bargain. Soon they walked into that big circus tent. This was the first time that Lawrence realized that he and his cousins would be thirsty and hungry. As they sat in their seats, the drink vendor walked by selling beverages. Desperately thirsty, Lawrence asked how much a lemonade would cost. The drink vendor said, "Eleven dollars each." Lawrence replied, "Oh, that's it? Just eleven dollars? What a great deal for one cup of lemonade." The drink vendor walked away.

Open Ended

How do flashbacks enhance our understanding of characters?

Open Ended

How does pacing differ in short stories compared to novels?

Open Ended

How does analyzing subtext and implied meanings deepen your understanding of a story?

Poll

How confident do you feel about this topic now?

• Very confident
• Somewhat confident
• Not confident