1. SETTING
1.1. When and where a story takes place
1.1.1. Consider
1.1.1.1. Geography
1.1.1.2. Weather
1.1.1.3. Time of day
1.1.1.4. Social conditions
1.2. Time period
1.2.1. When was the story written?
1.2.2. it takes place in
1.2.2.1. the past
1.2.2.2. the present
1.2.2.3. the future
2. NARRATOR AND POINT OF VIENE
2.1. Who tells the story and how it is told.
2.1.1. Short stories tend to be told through one character's point of view.
2.1.1.1. Narrator
2.1.1.1.1. The person telling the story who may or may not be a character in the story.
2.1.1.2. First person
2.1.1.2.1. Narrator participates in action but sometimes has limited knowledge/vision.
2.1.1.3. Second person
2.1.1.3.1. Narrator addresses the reader directly as though she is part of the story.
2.1.1.4. Third person (objetive)
2.1.1.4.1. Narrator is unnamed/unidentified
2.1.1.5. Omniscient
2.1.1.5.1. All-knowing narrator (multiple perspectives). The narrator knows what each character is thinking and feeling
2.2. The point of view of a story can sometimes indirectly establish the author's intentions.
3. PLOT AND STRUCTURE
3.1. The main sequence of events that make up the story.
3.1.1. How is the plot structured?
3.1.1.1. linear
3.1.1.2. chronological
3.1.1.3. move around
3.2. Usually centered around one experience or significant moment.
4. THEME
4.1. The main idea, lesson or message in the short story.
4.2. Usually an abstract idea about the human condition, society or life
5. CHARACTER
5.1. Representation of a person, place, or thing performing traditionally human activities or functions in a work of fiction
5.1.1. Protagonist
5.1.1.1. The character the story revolves around.
5.1.2. Antagonist
5.1.2.1. A character or force that opposes the protagonist.
5.1.3. Minor character
5.1.3.1. Often provides support and illuminates the protagonist.
5.1.4. Static character
5.1.4.1. A character that remains the same.
5.1.5. Dynamic character
5.1.5.1. A character that changes in some important way.
5.1.6. Characterization
5.1.6.1. The choices an author makes to reveal a character's personality
5.1.6.1.1. Appearance
5.1.6.1.2. actions
5.1.6.1.3. dialogue
5.1.6.1.4. motivations
6. he/ she has to physically appear on the scene
7. CONFLICT
7.1. The problem in any piece of literature
7.1.1. Types
7.1.1.1. Internal conflict
7.1.1.1.1. Struggle between two opposing forces within a person
7.1.1.2. External Conflict
7.1.1.2.1. Struggle between two opposing forces