THE SHORT STORY

Readings & Elements

DEFINITION

Edgar Allan Poe, in his essay "The Philosophy of

Composition," wrote that a short story should be read in

one sitting, anywhere from a half hour to two hours.

Experimentation with literary devices

Unity:• One plot• One main character (with a few additional minor

characters)• One central theme• One setting/time

ELEMENTS

Character: dominant traits (flat, not round characters)

Plot: dialogue, opening sets tone, twist ending (complete

reversal of all that’s been) or soft ending (implication that story

continues close)

Setting: nature takes on significance

Point of View

Literary Devices:• Symbolism• Figurative language

“THE KISS”

Author: Kate Chopin

Plot: Girl secures wealthy husband while attempting

to string along another man.

SS Element to consider: Character

Names have meanings!

Dominant Traits: Natty, Braintain, Harvy

“TOO SOON A WOMAN”

Author: Dorothy Johnson

Plot: A young woman meets a family and tags along until a crisis of food and

lodging causes her to rise above her circumstances and find some

happiness.

SS Element to consider: Setting

Setting (Nature takes on significance)• Atmosphere or Tone• Influence over plot• How does setting operate as a character itself?

Character (Dominant Traits, Motivation)

Plot Development (Opening, Closing)

“HORSE”

Author: Ann Packer

Plot: Brainy girl tries to transform herself into a pom-pom girl

and fails.

SS Element to consider: Point of View

Point of View – the power of perspective! What is known,

perceived, realized?

Character (Dominant Traits, Motivation)

Plot Development (Opening, Close)

“A MEASURE OF FREEDOM”

Author: Jade Snow Wong (autobiography written in 3rd person)

Plot: Immigrant daughter attends school and gains some wisdom and

freedom.

SS Element to consider: Conflict

Chinese Culture vs. American Culture;

Student vs. Educator;

Daughter/Child vs. Parents;

Desires vs. Duty;

Individual vs. Family

“THE SCHOLARSHIP JACKET”

Author: Marta Salinas

Plot: Tex-Mex girl must rise above discrimination.

SS Element to consider: Plot Development

Exposition: setting/characters (Marta/Martha; farm; Tex-Mex

conflict)

Rising Action: initial conflict (overhearing teachers Grandpa’s

refusal)

Climax: meeting with principal (facing prejudice)

Falling Action/Resolution: runs home to Grandpa with news

“TRIP IN A SUMMER DRESS”

Author: Annette Sandford (major themes: “friendship, marriage, family”)

Plot: Young woman leaves behind mother (& son) to embark on a

new life, only to realize (a) that her mother was right! or (b) stability

and familial ties matter most.

SS Element to consider: Figurative Language

Sandford on language: “I am much concerned with rhythm in my

prose, with character and with letting the story reveal itself to

me…”

Metaphor; Simile; Allusion – influence over plot/characters?

SHORT STORY ELEMENT PAPER

For this essay, you are to identify a short story element at work within

one of the short stories we have read so far: “The Kiss,” “Too Soon a

Woman,” “Horse,” “A Measure of Freedom,” “The Scholarship Jacket” or

“Trip in a Summer Dress.”

Next, you are to write a 1 ½ -- 2 pgd. paper, using the following format:• 1-2 sentence topic (identify title of work and author; identify element

under discussion and its effect on the story)• 6-8 sentence body (identify 2-4 main ideas that use direct quotes from

the story as proof for each idea; be sure to explain each quote!)• 1-2 sentence conclusion (recap main ideas and topic of paper)

DUE: September 12, 2014

“WHERE ARE YOU GOING, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?”

Author: Joyce Carol Oates

Plot: Young girl thinks she’s too cool for her family only to realize that the world is a

much scarier place full of lies and pretense.

Literary Theme: Coming-of-Age (bildungsroman: character grows psychologically

and/or morally)

Character: Dominant Traits, Motivation

Setting: American Pop Culture in the 60s (compare to different times/places)

Plot Development: Exposition vs. Resolution (Connie at opening and close); Climax

Point of View: Connie’s? Arnold Friend’s? Parents?

Conflict: Parents vs. Connie; Arnold vs. Connie; Innocence vs. Ignorance

Figurative Language: Metaphors, Similes, Allusions?

“MRS. SEN’S”

Author: Jhumpa Lahiri

Plot: Young woman misses native Indian home and fails to assimilate.

SS Element to consider: Character, Setting, Point of View, Conflict

Thematic Elements: loneliness, broken communication, identity, coming-of-age

Character: Mrs. Sen (ethnic identity), Eliot (latchkey kid)

Setting: New England; college town; inside Mrs. Sen’s home

Point of View: What does Eliot see/understand that his mother or Mr. Sen

doesn’t?

Conflict: America vs. India; Mrs. Sen vs. Eliot’s mother; Mrs. Sen vs. Mr.

Sen

COMING -OF-AGE THEME IN L ITERATURE

For this essay, you are to choose either two characters from the different

short stories we have discussed in class and compare or contrast their

coming-of-age or delineate the coming-of-age of one character from “Mrs.

Sen’s” or “WAYGWHYB?”

Next, you are to write a 1 ½ -- 2 pgd. paper, using the following format:• 1-2 sentence topic (identify titles and authors; identify characters and how

they connect to one another)• 6-8 sentence body (identify 3 similarities or differences between the

characters you have chosen to compare or identify 3 key moments of growth; use direct quotes from each story as proof for each idea; be sure to explain each quote!)

• 1-2 sentence conclusion (recap main ideas and topic of paper)

DUE: September 18, 2014