Elements of Short Stories

a literary work’s central idea or main message about life; not stated directly.

images such as metaphors and similes that describeone thing in terms of another

The characters and setting are introduced and the problem begins to unfold

a reference to a well know person, event, or place, music, art, or another literary work

verbal expression of sensory experience; created by details that appeal to the five senses

When the narrator employs the use of “you”

any object, person, place, etc. thatrepresents itself, but also stands for something else

This narrator is a character in the story that shows the inside thoughts of only one character

The narrator is a character in the story and refers tohimself or herself as “I”

A struggle or problem in the story

An interruption in the plot events to relate or remind the audience of an earlier event

theperspective from which the narration is told

the writer’s choice of words; a stylistic element thathelps convey (show) voice and tone

The point of greatest interest or suspense in the story

Hints or clues that suggest future action

A writer or speaker’s attitude toward a subject,character, or audience

exploits the readers’expectations when expected events are different from what actually happens

The events between the conflict and the resolution

A group of words that is grammatically incomplete andcannot stand alone

The way in which words are put together to makemeaningful elements such as phrases andsentences

An all-knowing narrator that is able to recount the background and thoughts of any character 

Events that occur to complicate the plot