The Short Story
- Definition - The short story is a story that follows a simple plot and has a single theme or message. It usually has a small number of characters (3 - 4).
- Humour – Very few good short stories are simply humorous but many do use humour in parts. Humour comes from many sources, but the following is a good way of explaining how it is created:
Ø Funny characters
Ø Amusing language
Ø Humorous dialogue
All four elements noted above will usually be very closely linked.
3. Structure – The short story writer must be able to ‘chop’ little parts from life and make them seem interesting and understandable. It is a slice of life. The writer is careful when deciding when to get into a character’s life and when to get out. The writer must show the scene, not tell it.
4. Plot – three main elements:
Ø Conflict – This is a struggle of some kind – between people, within the person himself, or between the person and his environment. The main character has a goal that is important to him or her; one or more obstacles are placed in his / her path. At the end there is sometimes an unexpected twist.
Ø Suspense – Conflict leads to suspense. Suspense is that element in the story that gives the reader the urge to read on to find out what happens next.
Ø Order – It is common to tell a story in the order in which the events happen (i.e. chronological order). Another option is the ‘flashback’ technique. The method involves the story opening with a character in a certain situation before going back to tell of the events that led to the situation.
5. Narrator – Who is ‘telling’ the story? The three most used points of view are as follows:
Ø Omniscient (e.g. Lord of the Flies) – The story is told in the third person. The narrator does not take part in the action of the story. He/she is like an invisible observer with the power to see everything, knowing the inner thoughts and feelings of all the characters in the story. However, the narrator must be careful to reveal just enough information to hold the interest of the reader. The omniscient point of view is not always neutral. Authors occasionally make judgments about the characters and situations they create in order to direct the reader to adopt a certain attitude towards these.
Ø First Person (e.g. The Catcher in the Rye) – The story is told by a character directly involved in the story. These types of stories let readers feel very close to the events of the story. The reader feels more involved in the story by listening to the narrator sharing his or her personal thoughts and feelings about the events. The narrator is usually a central character, and may be odd or eccentric. It is important to ask yourself what attitude the writer wants you to take towards the narrator – approval? disapproval? pity? scepticism? etc.
Ø Narrator as a minor character (e.g. To Kill a Mockingbird) – This poses a problem in that the narrator has to be present in order to narrate the scenes.
6. The Opening – Often a short story will begin in the middle of some dramatic event with people talking or doing things. This will make the reader feel that he / she is ‘there’. The reader may not understand the importance of this event at first but gradually it is revealed as the story progresses. The writer will often hint rather than clearly explain the situation.
7. Characters – Short story characters are usually simple enough. They stand out due to one strong trait (e.g. noticeably arrogant or snobbish, timid or fussy, bossy or rude, etc.). The trait is brought out by the words and actions of the character. The characters become in our minds what we see them do.
8. Dialogue – It is vital to most scenes. It is used for the following reasons:
Ø To give plot information or to progress the plot
Ø To show a character’s personality
Ø To dramatise relationships between characters
Ø To show conflict
Ø To express the message or theme of the story
Dialogue is usually lively and energetic.
9. Setting – The time and place in which the short story occurs is the ‘glue’ of a story, fixing its events firmly in position in the reader’s mind. It is made clear to the reader when and where the story is taking place so that the reader can visualise the events. It can be described in stages throughout the story. The parts of the story that describe ‘setting’ are kept as brief as possible.
10. The Ending – If the main character is likeable, the reader will be rooting for him or her to solve the problem successfully. If, on the other hand, he’s a bad guy, we expect him to learn his lesson. As the short story is ‘a slice of life’, issues are often left unresolved and the reader is kept guessing. Alternatively, a short story can end with an unexpected twist – a triumph or defeat; the twist is not revealed until the final sentence or two.