Grade 11
Notes: The Short Story
I. Types of Short Stories:
a. Fiction- based upon the author’s imagination; characters,
events and action are MADE UP
i. Escape Literature- written purely for entertainment
value; usually NO THEME, or the theme is not
essential; aka pulp writing
ii. Interpretive Literature- contains one or more THEME;
written to sharpen or broaden our view of life and it
should lead to a new insight into life
iii. Some Genres
1. Fantasy- a radical departure, sometimes bizarre or
grotesque, from our sense of the “real” world
2. Science Fiction- a sub genre of fantasy that deals
in a speculative manner the achievements of
science
3. Allegory- an extended narrative, where a second
meaning runs parallel to the surface story
b. Non-fiction- based on real people and events (may be
historical or contemporary); includes biography,
autobiography, newspaper
II. Significance of the title:
The title should give a hint about the plot, the conflict, the
characters or the theme.
III. Setting:
a. Time and Place- introduced very early in the story
b. Initial Incident- the first thing that happens in a story;
purpose is to catch the reader’s attention, set up the conflict
and introduce the characters
c. Mood/Atmosphere- the emotional setting of the story (ex-
dark, light-hearted, satirical)
IV. Plot:
a. Parts of the plot:
INTRODUCTION, RISING ACTION, CLIMAX, CONCLUSION
b. Plot Devices:
i. Episodic Plot- a plot that focus on one event
ii. Parallel Plotline- two plot lines that run concurrently in
the story; sometimes one is the literal meaning and the
other the interpretive meaning as in an allegory; or it
could be two similar plots that when read together are
more revealing
iii. Main Plot vs Sub Plot- a sub plot is a minor storyline
within the larger story
iv. Stream of consciousness- the flow and flux of thoughts
and feelings as they pass through a narrator or
characters mind.
v. Epiphany- a moment of sudden, profound revelation
and wonder. Can be experienced by the reader or by a
character in a story.
c. Types of Endings:
i. Comedy- the protagonist SOLVES THE CONFLICT ie
“lives happily-ever-after”
ii. Tragedy- the protagonist DOES NOT SOLVE THE
CONFLICT; the protagonist may die or lose everything
(often because of his/her own fault)
iii. Indeterminate- aka open ended story; no real ending;
the reader must make up his/her own ending
iv. Deus ex Machina- “god from a machine”; a sudden,
unexpected ending where the protagonist is saved by a
new character or unexpected event.
V. Characters:
a. Types of Characters:
i. Protagonist- the main character
ii. Antagonist- the person or force that opposes the
protagonist
iii. Round- we know a lot about the character
iv. Flat- we don’t know much about the character
v. Stock or Stereotype- character that is considered to by
TYPICAL; we recognize the character without a lot of
information; ex- dumb jock, emo kid, mad scientist,
lame parent who tries to be cool
vi. Static- the character does not change
vii. Dynamic- the character changes; the change should be
logical, gradual and realistic
viii. Foil - two characters who contrast each other in a
significant way.
b. Methods of Characterization:
i. Direct- the author tell you everything you need to
know about the character; ex “He was a tall man who
could be very stubborn.”
ii. Indirect- the author shows you what the character is
like through actions, dialogue, interactions with other
characters, theme, symbols, etc; ex “He reached up and
removed the cereal from the very top shelf and thought
‘she will never change my mind about this.’
c. Requirements of a Character:
i. Consistent- the character must behave consistently and
realistically; behaviour patterns should not suddenly
change without a logical reason
ii. Plausible- the character should be believable and life
like; the reader should be able to identify with the
character
iii. Motivated- the character should have a reason for
his/her words and actions
VI. Theme:
a. Defintion: what the reader learns from the story; this is not
a moral; should provide insight into life and/or humanity; the
author’s message
b. Two Types of Theme:
i. Explicit- the author tell the reader the theme (usually
expressed by one of the characters)
ii. Implicit- the reader must find the theme for his/herself
(must read between the lines)
VII. Point of View: how the story is told
a. First Person: Story is told in the “I”form; the speaker
becomes the central character; reader in able to get into the
mind and emotions of narrator only (the rest of the
characters must vocalize their thoughts or feelings before
we know what they are)
b. Third Person: Story is told in the “he, she, they” form.
i. Limited Omniscient- we know only the thoughts and
feelings of the central character; other characters must
vocalize their feelings and thoughts for us to know
them
ii. Omniscient- the story is told in the third person but the
reader knows what all of the major characters are
thinking and feeling
VIII. Conflict: the problem(s) or opposition that the main character
must face; that which stand in the way of the protagonist’s
happiness or success
a. Internal Conflict: Person vs Self- the protagonist struggles
and battles against some part of himself (emotions, beliefs,
self image, a difficult decision, etc)
b. External Conflict:
i. Person vs Person- may involve an actual physical
battle, a difference of opinion or a struggle for
supremacy
ii. Person vs Environment- protagonist versus some
element of his/her world: animal, insect, landscape,
illness, weather, natural disaster, machine
iii. Person vs Society- protagonist against the rest of
society; society may stereotype the protagonist and not
see the REAL person; the protagonist will do something
of which society does not approve; the protagonist
struggles for acceptance, respect or approval
IX. Elements of a Short Story: This list is not exhaustive and
focuses on concepts with which you are less familiar
a. Tone- the author’s attitude towards his/her subject; ex
critical, empathetic, mournful; the reader is meant to feel
this way too
b. Universal Symbol- a symbol that is understood by everyone
across a culture; ex black=evil, white=good
c. Contextual Symbol- a symbol that requires the context of
the story for meaning; ex in Lord of the Flies the conch
symbolizes rules and order because it brings the boys
together and they obey it. Outside of these literary works
the conch may have no meaning or simply a different
meaning
d. Diction and Syntax- the choice and arrangement of words in
a literary work; it should reflect the subject, style and goal
of a work
e. Double Entendre- a word or phrase that is open to two
interpretations; usually one of the interpretations is lewd or
inappropriate
f. Juxtaposition- the placement of two objects, characters or
ideas side by side so as to invite the reader to
compare/contrast them
g. Verisimilitude- used to describe a literary work that is to
the reader believable and realistic in action and character
h. Archetype- Greek for “primitive form”; used to describe a
plot pattern or character that we all recognize in our
collective unconscious; ex the man who offends God and is
punished, the innocent virgin
i. Dilemma- a plot device where the protagonist is presented
with a problem in which none of the possible outcomes is
acceptable. The purpose of this device can be to either
heighten suspense and/ or reveal characterization.
j. Foreshadowing – the technique of establishing clues or hints
within a narrative which may suggest a possible outcome.
k. Irony: A meaningful discrepancy (difference) in elements of
a story or plot. This discrepancy is meant to call attention
to elements of a story, such as character or theme. There
are three types:
1. Verbal irony – discrepancy between what is said
and what is meant. Ex. Telling someone they
“look cool” when the opposite is meant à
Sarcasm.
2. Situational Irony – discrepancy between what is
expected to happen, and what really happens.
3. Dramatic Irony – discrepancy between what a
character says and thinks and what the reader or
audience knows to be true.
