Short Story Literature Elements

Setting

• The setting usually refers to the time and place in which the story takes place.
• The setting often influences the values, beliefs and attitudes of people.

Characters

• Characters are the people found in the story. Sometimes, a character can also be an animal or an object.
• These characters can be categorised into main characters and supporting characters. The character that dominates the story is usually the main character.
• Their characteristics are the way these characters behave and act.
• Readers can learn about characters in many ways including:

(a) physical traits

(b) actions

(c) opinions

(d) dialogue

(e) point of view

Plot

• A plot tells how events are connected or how the story is told.
• A common pattern of a plot is a course of events in a story that contains a conflict or a problem that ends with a resolution or a turning point.
• In other words, a plot is a sequence of events, the “why” for the things that happen in the story.

Point of view

1. In a story, someone is telling the story from his or own point of view.
2. The point of view could be:

(a) in the first person , using ‘I’ and ‘We’ to give the personal touch

(b) in the second person, using ‘they’ / ‘he’ / ‘she’ / ‘it’

(c) who tells the story and how it is told are very important. The tone and feel of the story and even its meaning can change depending on who is telling the story.