The Short Story

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A short story is a short piece of fiction

Learn the elements of short stories

through the classic Cinderella
 Setting
Setting is the time and place of the
storys action. Setting includes ideas,
customs, values, and beliefs.
 The setting in Cinderella
The story takes place a long time ago in
a land ruled by a king and a queen.
 Characters
Characters are the actors in a storys
plot. They can be people, animals, or
whatever the writer chooses.

The protagonist is the main character.

The antagonist is the person in conflict
with the main character. Not all stories
have antagonists.
 Characters in Cinderella
The main characters are Cinderella, the
stepsisters, their mother, the fairy
godmother, and the prince.

Protagonist: Cinderella
Antagonist: the stepsisters, their mother
 Point of View
Point of view refers to the relationship of the
narrator, or storyteller, to the story.
In first-person point of view, the narrator is a
character in the story, referred to as I.
In third-person limited point of view, the narrator
reveals the thoughts of only one character, referring
to that character as he or she.
In third-person omniscient point of view, the
narrator knows everything about the storys events
and reveals the thoughts of all the characters.
Cinderella is told through
the third-person omniscient
point of view.
 Theme
Theme is the central idea or message
of a story, often a perception about
life or human nature.
Stated themes are directly
presented in a story.
Implied themes must be inferred by
considering all the elements of a
story and asking what message about
life is conveyed.

The theme of Cinderella is

implied. The reader can infer the
message that if you are in a bad
situation, you should do the best
that you can. In the end, things will
work out for you.
 Plot
Plot is the sequence of events in a story.
Each event causes or leads to the next. Plot
is often created through conflict, a struggle
between opposing forces.
An external conflict is one between a
character and an outside force, such as
another character, nature, society, or fate.
An internal conflict takes place within the
mind of a character who is torn between
opposing feelings or between different
courses of action.
 Problem and Conflict in
Cinderella
Problem: Cinderella wants to go to the ball,
but her stepsisters prevent her from going.

Conflict: The conflict is externalCinderella

versus the stepsisters and their mother.
 Types of Conflict
Conflict is generally categorized in the
following ways:
Man versus Man: this is an external struggle
between two characters
Man versus Society: this is an external struggle
between a character and a social force or condition
produced by society, such as poverty, political
revolution, or a set of values
Man versus Nature: this is an external struggle
between a character and some natural obstacle or
natural condition
Man versus Self: this is an internal struggle within a
character, where aspects of his or her personality
may struggle for dominance. These aspects may be
emotional, intellectual, or moral.
 The Five Stages of Plot
Exposition introduces the storys characters,
setting, and conflict.
Rising action occurs as complications, twists,
or intensifications of the conflict occur.
Climax is the emotional high point of the
story.
Falling action is the logical result of the
climax.
Resolution presents the final outcome of the
story.
 The 5 Stages of
plot in The stepsisters
try to force their
Cinderella A fairy Cinderella dances
feet into the slipper.
It fits Cinderella.
godmother with the prince,
appears and but leaves hurriedly
provides at midnight; losing a
Cinderella lives An Cinderella slipper
with her stepsisters invitation with clothes,
and their mother. to the ball a coach, and Cinderella and
The prince
they make her wear arrives. footman. the prince marry.
says he
rags and do all the will marry
hard work. Cinderella the woman
goes to the whom the
ball. slipper fits.

The
stepsisters
They live happily
go to the
ever after.
ball.