Review Notes: The Short Story: Definition

Review Notes: The Short Story
Definition:
A short story is a narrative artistically presenting characters in a
struggle or conflict, which has a definite outcome. The artistry of the
short story depends on the fact that the author seeks to achieve a
maximum of predetermined effect with a minimum of material.
Characteristics:
(these are aspects that tend to make a short story differ from a novel)
a) brevity: most often the short story contains between 2000 and
10000 words. It is meant to be read in one sitting.
b) few characters: there are rarely more than six, usually only two
or three. No character is included who is not absolutely
necessary for the development of the plot. Personality tends to
be revealed rather than developed.
c) uncomplicated plot: often based on a single incident; the
conclusion is brief, usually occurring almost immediately after
the climax. Often the author gives us clues which foreshadow
the outcome, making the pace seem even more rapid.
d) a brief space of time is covered: skill must be shown by
beginning the story at a point as near to the intended climax as
possible.
e) no long descriptive passages describing time and place :
setting is used chiefly to establish the mood or atmosphere for
the action of the plot.
Essential Elements:
(like any narrative, a short story must have a plot, characters, setting,
and theme; however, in any given story one element may be
stressed more than the others)
1. Plot
Plot is a series of related events or actions moving from a
beginning through a logically related sequence to a logical and
natural outcome. Without conflict of some sort, plot does not exist.
A typical short story will go through the following stages of plot
development: introduction, rising action (also called complication)
which included a crisis or crises, climax, and falling action (also called
denouement). Some stories also have a formal conclusion while
others simply imply the ending.
Plot Graph
(see chalkboard)
a) The Introduction should arouse the interest of the reader.

It should introduce main characters, establish setting and
atmosphere, provide necessary background information,
and give hints of future plot action and themes.
b) The Rising Action must sustain the interest created in the
introduction. It is here after the initial conflict, that the
reader finds the cause and effect relationship with specific
events. Particularly important events or decisions made
by characters which impact greatly on the final outcome
are referred to as crises.
c) The Climax is the term used to designate the turning point
in the action (which probably includes the fortunes of the
main characters). This is the point at which the rising
action peaks and then reverses, becoming the falling
action. The climax is often the point of highest interest or
suspense; it is the point at which the reader makes the
greatest emotional response.
d) The Falling Action follows the climax and provides the
path to the Conclusion to the story. This phase should
round out the story in a satisfactory way, providing any
necessary explanations, but should be short with no new
suspense or complications. Some stories actually end at
the climax or during the falling action, leaving the readers
to provide their own ending.
2. Characters
Characters in a narrative are those to whom the events happen.
They can be divided into three main categories:
major: those around whom the events of the story revolve
secondary: those who play a significant role in the unfolding of
the plot
minor: those who play less significant roles or who are there
simply to provide realism in the story.
Secondary and minor characters both are used to fulfill some
important functions for the author. Some examples include:
* furthering the plot
* revealing character (that of other characters)
* providing local colour (adding realism)
* developing theme
The main methods of character revelation in any narrative are:
a) what the character says
b) what the character does (actions, gestures,
intellectual and emotional responses top people and
situations)
c) what others say about the characters (be careful of
bias though!)
d) the author’s description of the character
Note: When you are writing a character sketch, you should

identify various traits / characteristics, providing proof from the
story and noting the methods of character revelation used.
3. Setting
Setting is the physical background against which the
action of the narrative takes place. Elements of setting include:
a) actual geographic location (includes scenery)
b) time or period in which the action takes place (e.g.
season, historical period, morning, etc)
c) mood / atmosphere
d) local colour (aspects of life which make the region
and time period of the story far more realistic;
examples include occupations, daily manner of
living, customs of characters, social, religious, and
moral environment, etc)
4. Theme
Theme is the central, underlying idea of a literary work. It is
often some type of comment on life.
When discussing a theme, the student should note what he /
she thinks the author is saying about a certain thing (love, war,
prejudice, etc) then show how the author develops that idea
through the characters and plot line.
Point of View
Point of view is the vantage point from which the author
presents the action of the story. We might call it a particular
“camera angle.” Point of view can be considered as whose story
the author decided it was and whom he decided should tell the
story.
There are many variations and combinations of points of view,
but the principal modes are
1. First Person Narrator
a) main character (“I did”)
b) observer (“I saw”)
2. Third Person Narrator
a) omniscient narrator (author moves from character to
character and event to event, having free access to
motivation, thoughts and feelings of the characters and
introducing information to the reader when and where he
/ she chooses)
b) restricted narrator (author chooses one character who is
followed through the action, restricting the reader to the
field of vision and range of knowledge of that character
alone)

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Review Notes: The Short Story

a) The Introduction should arouse the interest of the reader.

Note: When you are writing a character sketch, you should

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