Short Stories Lesson 1

Setting 

• Is the time and place (or when and where) of the story. It's usually introduced during the exposition (beginning) of the story, along with the characters.
• Usually not explicit. Look for clues that give it away!

As she entered, the doors cracked open and dust flew everywhere. It smelled like antiques and the air was thick. Luckily, her phone was illuminating the scene.

What do you know of the setting based on this sentence?

All the soldiers were watching. The big cyborg had destroyed the main office, and the chief didn't seem very happy about it. I was not sure whether the spaceship would resist any longer.

Write a sentence that would introduce this setting in a story without using the word "water/ocean/sea/etc"

Characters

Protagonist: The main character

Antagonist: Main character that goes against the protagonist

Flat vs. Round

Static vs. Dynamic

Theme

The lesson the author wants you to learn

It is not the same as genre

Examples: New friendships are difficult, true love is real, people are not to be trusted, etc. 

Friendship can be found in unexpected places

the thrill of curiosity and teamwork.

Courage and friendship

In a small town, Jake met a stray puppy who became his loyal companion.

In an old library, Alex and Mia stumbled upon a dusty book that led them on a quest to solve a hidden puzzle.

Emma, a shy girl at school, found the strength to stand up against bullies with the help of supportive friends.

Match the stories with their themes

Point of View

"I" Point of view: My friends and I went to the store after school, I don't know about them, but I am hungry. 

"He" point of view (limited): Jackson and his friends went to the store after school. Jackson was hungry but didn't know about his friends.

"All knowing" point of view: Jackson and his friends went to the store after school. Jackson was hungry, but Mike had just eaten so he could not wait for Jackson to order his fries. 

Turn this sentence into a "he" POV: "My mother helped me with the shopping and drove me home. Then, I spent the whole evening waiting for the call."

Turn this sentence into an "I" POV (you are X): John and Pia visited the restaurant. X worked there and was quite shocked to see them there. They were X's best friends.

Conflict

Plot Diagram / Plot Mountain

If you want to remember and understand the elements of the plot, watch the video in the next slide very carefully! Learning through songs is fun and I promise it will stay in your head. Give it a go!