The Short Story

The Short Story

Short Story vs Novel     

Meant to be read in one sitting Tend to be less complex Usually focus on one incident Fewer characters Tend to follow similar pattern

The Pattern

The Pattern 

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Aristotle’s Poetics

The Pattern  

Plot is “the first principle” Consists of      

Exposition Incentive moment or “inciting incident” Rising action Crisis Climax Denouement

The Pattern 

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Exposition: does not further plot but is essential information for reader Inciting incident: starts cause and effect chain Rising action: continues cause and effect chain Climax: elements of story should have inevitably led here. Resolution and denouement: caused by preceding events, but don’t lead to outside incidents

The Pattern   

Must be “unified” No deus ex machina Aristotle didn’t like episodic plots

Some more Greek terms 

A complex plot is better because they have:  

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Peripeteia: reversal of fortune Anagnorisis: turn upon surprise--change from ignorance or knowledge.

This leads to  

Catastrophe Catharsis

The other “principles”     

Character Diction Theme Melody Spectacle

Conflict     

Person vs person Person vs society Person vs self Person vs nature Person vs fate (God)

Character      

Protagonist vs hero Dynamic Static Flat Round Foil

Theme      

Statement General but not too general Should account for all major details Avoid sweeping generalizations. No clichés Helpful to mention topic title and author in a theme statement