UNDERSTANDING

SHORT STORIES

Year 9 MWSC2012

PSS

WHAT IS A SHORT STORY? A short story is a narrative that has a

beginning, a middle and an ending.

The orientation (beginning) tells the reader who, what, when, where and why.

The complication (middle) is the problem or the conflict the main character or characters must face and solve.

The resolution (ending) is the solving of the problem or conflict for better or for worse.

QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN YOU ARE READING A SHORT STORY. Purpose: What is the writer’s purpose?

Is it to entertain or to make the audience think?

Plot: How are the events of the story arranged? Are they interesting or exciting?

Setting: Where and when does the action take place? Does the setting have an important bearing upon the action?

Theme: What is the main underlying idea, to which the author would like the audience to respond?

Narrator: Who is telling the story? Is it a character in the story, an observer or the writer?

Characters: Who are the characters? Are they true to life? Why are they important?

Conflict: What struggle or problems occur between the characters or what inner conflict does the character need to resolve?

Climax: What is the most exciting point in the story?

Title: How does the title relate to the story?

Orientation: How does the beginning arouse your interest?

Complication: What are the problems that hinder the main characters from achieving their goal? How does the writer build up the suspense?

Resolution: Is the ending of the story a surprise? Are the problems solved?

SHORT STORY PLAN Start with a situation – a

problem to be resolved for your protagonist.

Then present the problems that can occur:

Misunderstandings mistaken identity lost opportunities

The final step is to show how you can solve the problem.

Love Triumphs good conquers evil honesty is the best policy united we stand

SHORT STORY THEME

Every piece of writing must have a message or thread of meaning running through it and this theme is the skeleton or framework on which you hang your plot, characters, setting etc.

As you write, make sure that every word is related to this theme.

TIME SPAN An effective short story convers a

very short time span. It may be one single event that is momentous in the life of your main character or the story may take place in a single day or even an hour.

Try to use the events you depict to illustrate your theme.

SETTING You do not have to be predictable when

deciding on settings. For example, some of the most frightening settings for thrillers are not cemeteries or lonely allies, but normal places where readers can imagine themselves.

Appeal to your reader’s five senses to make your settings more real.

CHARACTERS Around three main characters is

all a short story can effectively deal with because too many will distract you from your theme.

Decide on the characteristics that are important for your theme and stick to those.

DIALOGUE Never underestimate the power

of dialogue in conveying character, but it must contribute to the main focus of the story. Every word you put into the mouth of your characters must contribute to revealing your theme……if it doesn’t, be ruthless and cut it.

VIVID IMAGERY Visual imagery also draws the

reader in.

Capture the reader’s interest in, and empathy for, your characters. You need to paint such a vivid picture that the reader can imagine herself/himself to be in the scene.

PLOT Begin with an arresting first paragraph

or lead, enough to grab the readers and make them curious to know what happens next.

Make sure the plot works – there must be a beginning, middle and end.

Don’t signal the twist ending too soon – try to keep the reader guessing until the last moment.

NARRATOR The narrator is the one who tells the

reader what is going on. It is through the eyes of the narrator that the events and characters are seen.

The narrator may be one of the characters in the story or someone who observes what happens.

We use the term narrative point of view (POV) to describe the way in which the narrator sees the events that make up the story.

NARRATIVE POINTS OF VIEW The First Person “I” singular or “we” pluralThis gives the most personal view of events, as if told by a firsthand witness or witnesses.

The Second Person “You” – singular and plural Seldom used for telling stories as this

POV is used when giving instructions and commands.

NARRATIVE POINTS OF VIEW The Third Person “He”, “She”, “Tom” – singular Or “They” – plural

Offers a view of events and characters that is not limited by time or place. The main form is called the “Omniscient POV”. This POV is the most flexible.

EXAMPLE The next screen shows the first few lines

of a short story called The Breadwinner.

The Breadwinner

The parents of a boy of fourteen were waiting for him to come home with his first week’s wages. The mother had laid the table and was cutting some slices of bread and butter for tea. She was a little woman with a pinched face and spare body, dressed in a blue blouse and skirt, the front of the skirt covered with a starched white apron. She looked tired and frequently sighed heavily.

The Breadwinner

The parents of a boy of fourteen were waiting for him to come home with his first week’s wages. The mother had laid the table and was cutting some slices of bread and butter for tea. She was a little woman with a pinched face and spare body, dressed in a blue blouse and skirt, the front of the skirt covered with a starched white apron. She looked tired and frequently sighed heavily. The title of the story relates to the main issue

The Breadwinner

The parents of a boy of fourteen were waiting for him to come home with his first week’s wages. The mother had laid the table and was cutting some slices of bread and butter for tea. She was a little woman with a pinched face and spare body, dressed in a blue blouse and skirt, the front of the skirt covered with a starched white apron. She looked tired and frequently sighed heavily. Orientation: the characters are introduced

The Breadwinner

The parents of a boy of fourteen were waiting for him to come home with his first week’s wages. The mother had laid the table and was cutting some slices of bread and butter for tea. She was a little woman with a pinched face and spare body, dressed in a blue blouse and skirt, the front of the skirt covered with a starched white apron. She looked tired and frequently sighed heavily. Little to eat - poverty

The Breadwinner

The parents of a boy of fourteen were waiting for him to come home with his first week’s wages. The mother had laid the table and was cutting some slices of bread and butter for tea. She was a little woman with a pinched face and spare body, dressed in a blue blouse and skirt, the front of the skirt covered with a starched white apron. She looked tired and frequently sighed heavily. Description of mother suggests financial hardship and that she is struggling with a problem

The Breadwinner

The parents of a boy of fourteen were waiting for him to come home with his first week’s wages. The mother had laid the table and was cutting some slices of bread and butter for tea. She was a little woman with a pinched face and spare body, dressed in a blue blouse and skirt, the front of the skirt covered with a starched white apron. She looked tired and frequently sighed heavilyClean and neat – even if little to eat the table is still laid out

SHATTER PROOF He was a soft-faced man wearing rimless glasses, but he handled the automatic with unmistakable competence. I was rather surprised at my calmness when I learned the reason for his presence. ‘It’s a pity to die in ignorance,’ I said. ‘Who hired you to kill me?’ His voice was mild. ‘I could be an enemy in my own right.’

50 WORD SHORT STORY

We walk down to the busy intersection, me trailing behind Harry. We strut our stuff across the road. I can feel eyes watching and heads turning as we pass. In fact, I’m surprised we haven’t caused a collision with all the drivers watching. “Nice dog mate” remarks a passer-by.

MWSC Year 9 student

50 WORD SHORT STORY

It’s quiet in here, cool leather pressed against my cheek. I can hear noises, my relatives lie next to me. Suddenly sunlight pierces the darkness, glinting off my golden skin. I am flying through the sky and as I crash onto the table top a Freddo frog slides past me.

MWSC Year 9 student

THE END

Now it is your turn!