Analysis a Short Story
Analyzing a short story
The basic components of a short story
1. Plot (introduction, conflict, climax, resolution )
The sequence of events or incidents of which the story is composed. In the plot there may be diffferent kinds of conflicts (person agains person – person agains environment – person against him/herself). Artistic unity is essential to a good plot ; nothing irrelevant should be there that does not contribute to the total meaning. A good plot should not have any unjuustified or unexpected turns or twists, no false leads.
* In only a few sentences, what is the basic story line ? * What is the main conflict * What are the minor conflicts ? * How are the conflicts related ? * How are the conflicts related ? *What/Who caused the conflicts ? * Are the conflicts internal or external ? * How is the conflict resolved ? * Where does the main climax occur ? * Why does the main climax occur ? * Is there more than one climax ? * How does the story end ?
2. Characters The character can be presented directly or indirectly. A flat character is known by one or two traits ; a round character is complex and many-sided ; a stock character is a stereotyped character ; a static character remains the same from the beginning of the plot to the end ; and a dynamic character undergoes permanent change. The protagonist is the central character. The forces working against him or her are called the antagonists.
About a specific character * What is the character like ? * How is X person characterized by the author ? * What are his/her character traits ? * Is he or she flat, round, dynamic or static ? * What makes him or her complex (if he or she is) ? Does he/she change ? * How and why does
The basic components of a short story
1. Plot (introduction, conflict, climax, resolution )
The sequence of events or incidents of which the story is composed. In the plot there may be diffferent kinds of conflicts (person agains person – person agains environment – person against him/herself). Artistic unity is essential to a good plot ; nothing irrelevant should be there that does not contribute to the total meaning. A good plot should not have any unjuustified or unexpected turns or twists, no false leads.
* In only a few sentences, what is the basic story line ? * What is the main conflict * What are the minor conflicts ? * How are the conflicts related ? * How are the conflicts related ? *What/Who caused the conflicts ? * Are the conflicts internal or external ? * How is the conflict resolved ? * Where does the main climax occur ? * Why does the main climax occur ? * Is there more than one climax ? * How does the story end ?
2. Characters The character can be presented directly or indirectly. A flat character is known by one or two traits ; a round character is complex and many-sided ; a stock character is a stereotyped character ; a static character remains the same from the beginning of the plot to the end ; and a dynamic character undergoes permanent change. The protagonist is the central character. The forces working against him or her are called the antagonists.
About a specific character * What is the character like ? * How is X person characterized by the author ? * What are his/her character traits ? * Is he or she flat, round, dynamic or static ? * What makes him or her complex (if he or she is) ? Does he/she change ? * How and why does