Elements of Short Stories

The beginning of the story where we learn the setting, characters and major conflict from the story

• exposition

• rising action

• climax

• falling action

• resolution

The events that happen after the climax.

• exposition

• rising action

• climax

• falling action

• resolution

The story's conflict is resolved brings the story to a close.

• exposition

• rising action

• climax

• falling action

• resolution

It involves the time and place of the action

• setting

• protagonist

• antagonist

• conflict

The main character, the hero of the work

• setting

• protagonist

• antagonist

• conflict

• theme

A character who is presented as the enemy of the main character; the villain

• conflict

• protagonist

• antagonist

• theme

The struggle occurring within a character's mind

• setting

• internal conflict

• theme

• external conflict

A problem struggle that takes place between a character and an outside force.

• setting

• internal conflict

• theme

• external conflict

A symbol that is used to represent something different from what it actually is.

• setting

• plot

• theme

• symbol

Unifying idea or subject in literature; the lesson of the story.

• symbol

• plot

• theme

• setting