Elements of a Short Story
par Vilma Lopez
1. Conflict
1.1. • External
1.2. • Internal
1.3. Four Types of Sub-Conflict
1.3.1. • Person vs. Person
1.3.2. • Personvs. Circumstances
1.3.3. • Person vs. Society
1.3.4. • Person vs. Himself/Herself
2. Character
2.1. Characterization
2.1.1. • Direct Characterization
2.1.2. • Indirect Characterization
2.2. Characters Types
2.2.1. • Protagonist
2.2.2. • Antagonist
2.2.3. • Anti-hero
2.2.4. • Archetype
2.2.5. • Round
2.2.6. • Developing
2.2.7. • Flat
2.2.8. • Dynamic
2.2.9. • Static
3. Point of View
3.1. Participant
3.2. Nonparticipant
3.3. • First Person
3.4. • Second Person
3.5. • Third Person
3.6. • Third Person (Omniscient Limited)
3.7. Other
3.7.1. • Innocent Eye
3.7.2. • Stream of Consciousness
4. Theme
4.1. theme can be expressed in one or two simple statements
5. Setting
5.1. • Place
5.2. • Time
5.3. • Weather Conditions
5.4. • Social Conditions
5.5. • Atmosphere
6. Plot
6.1. • Exposition
6.2. • Inciting Force
6.3. • Rising Action
6.4. • Climax
6.5. • Falling Action
6.6. • Denouement
6.7. Other - • Antecedent Action
6.8. Special Techniques of Plot
6.8.1. • Foreshadowing
6.8.2. • Flashback
6.8.3. • Dialogue
6.8.4. • Suspense
7. Other Literary Devices
7.1. • Symbolism
7.2. • Irony
7.2.1. o Verbal irony
7.2.2. o Situational Irony
7.2.3. o Dramatic Irony