Table of Contents
short fiction
Short Fiction is the genre of Literature which is shorter than a Novel and was introduced after the novel. As from the name indicates, it is short and is usually read in one settings which is of may be 1 hour or maximum of 2 hours. It is am imaginative writings. As from the name, it is fictional which means imaginary. It is in the form of Prose. So the definition of a short fiction can be written as :-
A purely imaginative work of an author which can be read in one setting. (OR)
The imagination of an author in writing form which can be read in one setting.
Explanation of short fiction
Short Fiction work is purely imaginative. It’s length should be short. It if exceeds let say from 50 to 100 pages it is categories as Novella. And long than that can categorizes as Novel. The word count for short stories are not categories however the word count for typical short stories are from 1000 to 4000.
Some of the short stories have 15000 words and are considered as short stories. And some of the stories have also a word count less than 1000,they are categories as short short stories OR flash fiction. Another this is that it will be having few characters may be 1 or 2 or 3 but not more than that. It will be having a single theme, single plot and setting. Which means the whole story will be revolving around a single theme with in a single setting.
Elements of Short Stories :
Elements of short stories means that what are the things used by the authors to write his imagination ( short fiction). Some if the basic elements of short stories are as follow:-
- Setting
- Characters
- Plot
- Conflict
- Themes
- Symbols
- Point of view
We will be defining those and will be try to understand them.
Settings
Setting of a short story refers to the place where the story is taking place. For example The nightingale and the rose was set in the Garden. And the time during which the very short story is being written. When writing a short story one should look for where the actions are to be taken place and in addition, the historical period may be important for writing a short stories.
Characters
Characters are the most important element of short story. These are the elements through which the actions are played and the dialogues are dialogued. Characters are considered as the heart of the story. Without characters, no story is developed. Characters in the short fiction can be human beings or not a human being, it can be an object as it is completely fictional. For example in The nightingale and the Rose, the nightingale was given the characteristics of Human being of speaking. Primarily there are two types of characters.
Protagonist which is mostly the hero of the story but not always and the Antagonist which is mostly known as the villain of the story
The another concept of Characters in the Short Fiction is Flat and Round character.
Flat character which do not change through out the story and do not change his or her view for achieving his or her goals.
Round Character are those which changes in the story from start to end.
Plot
The arrangements of story in a particular sequence is know as Plot. The writer must know which action should be placed first, which at the middle and which at the last. He or she should know which when to introduce which character and how to play them. Moreover it is a logical sequence of action. The Plot is divided into 5 elements or stages:-
- Exposition :- Formally know as introduction of the short story. It is the beginning of the story in which the characters are introduced, the story is introduced and the initial events are explored
- Rising Action: At that stage, the story is going towards complications and the story is going forward. Further action happens here through which the story moves.
- Climax:- This is the stage of highest interest and full drama in which things turn around and the conflict is clear to everyone. We can say that it is the turning point of a story. After that the story goes towards conclusion side.
- Falling Action:- At that stage,things are getting resolved, and the conflict is clear and all the problems in the story is going towards solutions rather done with problems.
- Denouement :- That is the final stage of the story. Here we are told the results or the outcomes of story.
Conflict
In every short story as well as Novel or Novella, there has to be a problem which needs a solution. This problem is resolved throughout the story which is know as conflict. The main character has to be gone through many difficulties and hardship to solve particular problem in the story.
Now conflict is of mainly four types.
- Man versus himself :- In which the man fights against his own psychology. For example whether to take that particular steps to resolve problem or not.
- Man versus Nature :- Man fighting against nature
- Man versus Man :- here the man is fighting with a single person for example villain
- Man with society :- Man fighting with the whole society. For example in order to change them.
Themes
Themes in the stories refers to what actually the writers wants to convey his or her message through his writing which is in the form of short stories. What the writer had in his or her mind when he or she was writing that particular writing. Here actually what the writers wants is that the readers get his lessons from his writing. For example the writer is writing about the problem of that time as in the short story, the nightingale and the rose, the main central theme was materialism.
Symbols
Symbols are used in the short stories to show particular theme that for what purpose that object is used in that very story. For example in the short story, the nightingale and the Rose, rose is the Symbols of love from the boys towards the girl. Similarly different things are used as a symbol to show different themes
Point of view
This element of the short story or every writing deals with how the story is being told to the readers. It tells us how the writer is sharing his or her experiences. It is also the recognition of the narrator of the story. Usually the story is told to the readers on 3 ways.
- First person narration:- here the story is being told by onr the characters which is present in the story as well and performing actions. “I”, “me”, “my” etc are used.
- 2nd Person Narration :- here the writer is narrating directly to the reader using “you”, “your “ and “yours” pronouns.
- 3rd person narration :- when an external narrator is narrating a story, it is third person narrative. Pronouns like “He”, “she”, “they” are used here.
3rd person narration is divided into two categories.
3rd person limited :- here you are told that only the action being very clear and what the character is doing.
3rd person omniscient :- here you are not only told the actions but you have an access to the characters mind that the character is thinking and what he is going to do next.
Hope you have understand the basic concept is short stories and how the short stories are made up.