Short Story Elements

In studying short stories, some basic elements need to be evaluated. They include the following: 

·   plot

·   theme

·   character

·   setting

·   point of view

·   style

Each element contributes to the overall effect of the story. As you read and/or write a short story you should keep the following questions in mind:

·  What is the writer’s purpose? (inform, arouse, persuade)

·  What is the writer’s tone? (Sarcasm, humour, didactic)

·  How does the story begin? (setting, background information, characters-who, what, where, when, why or how) How much detail is supplied? Most stories begin with an expositional snapshot which is later fleshed out.

·  How does the story develop? (structure- linear or non-chronological, use of flashbacks)  

·  How does the story end? With a twist or surprise, a build up to an inevitable climax or are you left hanging?

·  Who tells the story? POV and narrative voice?

·  What is the language and style like? Level of language-formal, colloquial or slang? Use of dialogue?

·  What are the characters like? Number and level of development? Narrative function and level of reader identification and empathy?

·  How important is the setting in conveying the ideas and mood of the story?

You choice of text to study obviously depends on the age and strength of the student cohort but there are so many short story sites online that it is easy to find suitable texts. Some of the sites I have found most useful are given below. The ABC short story competition generates some excellent stories, suitable for older secondary students. The address given below gives access to audio as well as transcripts of the earlier competition winners. A particularly good story to use with junior secondary is the funny tale, 'The Snake and the Cowgirl' which works well as a listening task. The Harrowing tales site is brilliant to use for a lesson where the students can access the site themselves. I have found that they enjoy reading about real situations. I used it to introduce a Novel study unit for 'Hatchet' but it also works well just as a short story unit introduction where you are looking at what makes such stories interesting.

If you want more ideas about elements and style , check out Rules for Short Stories at answer.com

http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/survival/wilderness/survival.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/shortstories/2006.htm

The Snake and the Cowgirl By Daele Marie Healy, Murrurundi, New South Wales

I've been in the country six months when I see my first real snake, by which I mean the first snake that isn't really a garden hose, a snakeskin, a stick, a blue tongue lizard or a windscreen wiper, all of which have caused me to scream 'snake' at least twice.

I'm in the backyard dustbowl, picking up sticks, having thoroughly checked they're not snakes. Dirty and hot, I head inside for a shallow, cool bath.

In winter, I didn't wash much because it was so cold it was a big deal to take my clothes off. In summer, I'm respecting the restrictions in a town months away from shipping water in - not watering my lawn, rarely bathing and my quarterly bill is $10.61.

I don't towel off, letting the hot air evaporate the water off my skin to cool down. Naked, I walk out of the bathroom and straight into what I now know is the unmistakable s-shaped slither of a six-foot snake.

I've heard snakes are deaf but this serpent sure speeds up when I scream. In three steps I'm on the kitchen sink and wishing I had got around to kitchen curtains or was wearing more than a thong - only one thong because I couldn't find the other flip-flop in the bathroom. There's not even a tea towel in reach. Very few kitchen implements double as clothing. All the good stuff, like the saucepans and the colander, are on the other side of the room, near the oven. Damn my ergonomically organised kitchen. My choices are pink rubber gloves, a wine glass and cutlery. Even Jeannie Little would be struggling.

The snake slithers at the doorway. A viper moves nothing like a windscreen wiper. I won't make that mistake thrice.

It isn't going anywhere. I stupidly closed the back door before taking my clothes off. What was I thinking?

The snake seems unselfconscious of its naked state.

I need help. The mobile phone is in reach but who am I going to call? This is a special job, with specific selection criteria:
1. Snake-catching skills
2. My willingness to have them see me naked on a kitchen sink.
Sadly, the only successful candidate is seven hours' drive away. I'll crack before then. So I call the most important mental health professional in my life - the hotel publican.

'What colour is it?' he asks.

'Black, dark. It's enormous, pythonesque, and not in a Monty way, while still being a full-monty situation...'

'Well, that's good. It's a black snake. Brown snakes are small and skinny and a sandy colour. That would be bad.'

'So black snakes aren't poisonous?' I ask hopefully.

'Oh yeah, they're poisonous, but it won't kill you. It's good if you have black snakes because they keep brown snakes away.'

That's the sort of quality counselling I get from the publican: on the upside, it's not a brown snake. He also suggests sending over Jill, a local cowgirl, an attractive, tanned, blonde who takes trail rides, teaches horse riding and barmaids at the pub. The publican saw her ride past the front door.

Five minutes later I hear her yell through the sunroom window: 'G'day. Got a snake, have you?'

'Oh Jill, thank God. I'm in the kitchen. It's there, at the door... Could you get me a towel?'

She can't see me but she spies the snake, curled up calmly.

'Oh yeah, big bugger but it's a black. No, we won't need a towel for him.'

Then she yells behind her, 'Hey girls, come here. Have a look at this.'

Apparently Jill was in the middle of pony club. I hear the gasps of three local six-year-old girls.

'So, that's a black snake,' Jill instructs them. 'You're not meant to kill them. He's just escaping the heat.'

She must have climbed through the window because she appears at the kitchen door behind the snake. At the sight of me, still starkers on the sink, she starts, and laughs long and hard. When she's recovered, she calmly picks up the snake by its tail. Its head just off the ground, it turns around to look at her placidly. It really is six feet long.

I hear the girls 'ooooh' in admiration.

Jill takes the snake outside. I appear at the kitchen door, clutching in front of me the woven oval kitchen mat, and still wearing my one thong. Three six year olds look at me with contempt. I am everything they never want to be. I feel I have made a real contribution to their development.

'Short Stories' represent a wonderful unit for all age groups