Elements of a Short Story

The most important or leading character in a story

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

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

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

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

When the conflict is directly confronted

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

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

The events in a story are called what?

This begins immediately after the climax

The author's choice of narrator in a story

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

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

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

Type of Conflict: internal battles that characters wage within themselves