The Elements of a Short Story

There are 8 elements of a short story that we need to be aware of.

Let us go through all these 8 elements. These are:

• Setting
• Plot
• Moral Values
• Character
• Point of View
• Theme
• Tone,mood and atmosphere
• Language and Style

What is the setting?

I have discussed this in the short story, "Flipping Fantastic' which is an earlier post. Setting involves informing readers of where and when that particular story takes place. In other words, it provides the background to the story.

Who are the character or characters?

They are the people in the story. There are main actors as well as minor characters. Characters provides body to the short story.

What is a Plot?

It refers to the sequence or chain of connected events in the story. A plot must be exciting to maintain the readers' interests.

What is the Theme?

These refers to the important ideas or moral ideas about life that will emerge from the story. It is not stated directly all the time. You may have to draw it out of the story. a story can have more than one theme.

What are the Moral Values?

This refers to the good values of humankind. It may also incorporate lessons to be learnt in everyday life.

What is Point of View?

What is point of view. It refers to the one telling the story. If the one that is telling the story is a character in it, we called that a first person account. If the story is told by someone outside the character list, we call it the third person view point or omniscient point of view. The word, "Omniscient" is taken from the concept of 'God being everywhere.', and as such he can tell us the story even to the extent of the thoughts of the characters.

What are Tone,Mood and Atmosphere?

What does tone mean in a short story? Tone refers to the attitude of the writer toward the subject of his story and to his readers. It can be serious,light hearted or aimed at arousing some emotional feeling such as sympathy.

Mood refers to the general feel of the story. The mood can be pleasant, amusing, frightening, cruel, despairing or whatever depending on what type of story it is and what emotions the author is trying to arouse in you.

Atmosphere is the general sense of the story. It is the creation of a situation using sounds and sights to create a foreboding of things to come.

What are Language and Style?

These are the language tools used by the writer. They are also known as literary devices. They are used to convey the message of the story.These can range from sights and sounds employing imagery,idioms, metaphors, similes, personification, hyperbole,alliteration and others. All writers have their own style of writing.