Elements of a Short Story

the vantage point or perspective from which a story is told; who is telling the story (narrator)

• point of view

• plot

• theme

• suspense

I, me, my, we – The narrator is a character from the story

• 3rd person Limited

• 2nd person

• 1st person

• 3rd person omniscient

he, she, they – The narrator is not a character from the story and shares only one character’s thoughts and feelings.

• 1st person

• 2nd person

• 3rd person limited

• 3rd person omniscient

he, she, they – The narrator is not a character from the story and shares more than one character’s thoughts and feelings.

• 2nd person

• 3rd person limited

• 1st person

• 3rd person omniscient

the act of creating or describing a character by showing what characters say, do, or think; showing them what other characters say or think about them; and describing their physical features, dress, and personalities the characters display

• theme

• characterization

• plot

• point of view

the main character

• protagonist

• antagonist

• round

• flat

the one who opposes the main character

• static

• flat

• protagonist

• antagonist

This character has multiple character traits.

• potagonist

• antagonist

• flat

• round

This character has only one main character trait.

• protagonist

• antagonist

• flat

• static

This character goes through a major change in the story.

• antagonist

• round

• flat

• dynamic