Short Story

The Short Story

-it reflects and expresses life in all its manifestations. It is a fictional narrative prose which attempts to recreate or represent concrete human experience in such a way, and with such impact, as to bring out meanings invisible to the strictly scientific observer.

Generally short stories have only a few events and characters, with conflict centering to one main character.

Elements of Short Story

The Setting- it is the time, the place, the psychological set-up, the atmosphere in the story

The Characters- they are the persons involved in the story

A. Qualities of a Character

1. Plausibility- believability of a character

2. Sympathy- making the reader feel that it is almost real

3. Vitality- intensity of the character to be noticed

4. Consistency- sticking to one role and changes only when the need arises

B. Kinds of Characters

1. Protagonist- bearer of good

2. Antagonist- bearer of bad (villain)

3. Dynamic/ Rounded- one who changes from bad to good or the other way around

4. Flat/ Stereotype- one who does not have any character changes

The Plot- it is the series of events in the story. It is sometimes arranged chronologically or episodic

Parts of a Plot

1. Exposition- it is the introduction of the characters or the situation they are in, the setting or the mood of the story

2. Complication- it is the struggles, the trials, the difficiculties which the characters fight against

            Types of Conflict

            a. Man vs man

            b. Man vs himself

            c. Man vs morality

            d. Man vvs Forces of Nature

3. Climax- it is the highest of in the story

4. Denouement – it shows resolution

5. Ending- the concluding part that usually ends with a theme

The Language and Style

-         it pertains to the linguistic side of the story and the manner of the writer’s presentation

a. diction- the author’s choice of words

b. local color- use of local terms

The Point of View

-         it refers to the way the story is told

a. First Person Point of View-  the author is the subjective narrator. He is putting himself in the story. In this kind, the author uses ‘I’ or ‘We’

b. Third Person Point of View- the author is objective. He is narrating the story but is not involved. The author uses ‘she’, ‘he’, and ‘they’

The Narrative Devices

-this refers to the techniques used by the writer telling the story

1. straight narration

2. narration mixed with dialogue

3. mistaken identity

4. poem devices

5. incantation device

6. confession/ testimony device

7. flashback device

8. journey device