Elements of a Short Story

Type of character who is defined by a single quality; not well-developed; ex: wicked stepmother

Type of Conflict character will oppose the actions, reactions, motivations of another character

A complex character who has personality traits like a real person; ex: Shrek

This marks the beginning of a story; introduces the characters, setting, and situation

The underlying meaning, lesson, or message in a story; the moral of the story

Type of Conflict: internal battles that characters wage within themselves

This begins immediately after the introduction of the conflict; suspense increases a lot

The most important or leading character in a story

This is the method used to tell a story

Also called the initial incident, this moment introduces the central conflict of the story

This marks the high point of interest of the story; also when the story is most suspenseful

The events in a story are called what?

The character who is pitted against the protagonist; often, but not always, the villian

This happens at the story's end and shows how the conflict is resolved.

This begins immediately after the climax