Plot

• The plot of a short story is simply the series of events and situations that encompass the action. Of all the elements that go into a short story, plot is the least ambiguous. No matter the story, most plots follow a predictable arc of rising action, climax and falling action. An especially creative writer may jumble the plot to highlight certain events, but without some sequence of happenings, the story has nothing for the reader to follow.
  
  

Setting

• The setting is the physical environment in which the short story's events unfold. The writer creates the setting through careful and detailed descriptions. Typically, the setting will function to highlight the themes of the short story. In some cases, a setting can be so vibrant and essential to the story that it almost becomes a character of its own. Because short stories are so brief, there is usually only one setting. In a longer piece of fiction, settings may change as the story moves forward.
  
  

Point of View

• In some short stories, the reader experiences the plot through the eyes of a single character. In others, the story is narrated by an all-knowing and all-seeing observer, separate from the action but relating everyone's thoughts and feelings. Many fall somewhere in between. The lens through which the reader sees the unfolding of the short story is referred to as point of view. A clever writer will choose a certain point of view to achieve a particular effect. Revealing or not revealing certain information in a story is an effective ploy to keep the reader hooked.
  
  

Character

• A short story can't exist if it lacks characters---those imaginary beings created in the storyteller's mind. Characters usually fall into one of several categories. The protagonist, for example, is the main character around which the short story is anchored. Minor characters naturally fill minor roles. Standing in the way of the protagonist is the antagonist. A successful short story will feature characters that are distinct from one another and virtually indistinguishable from real human beings.
  
  

Conflict

• The most well-constructed plot cannot hold a reader's interest if there is no conflict. Conflict doesn't have to mean argumentation or fighting. It can simply be some unresolved issue within the plot or between the characters. The climax and falling action of the story involve the acknowledgement and resolution of the conflict. An unresolved conflict at the end of a story either means the story isn't really finished or it's not a well-designed story.
  
  

Theme

• According to Kathleen Dinneen and Maryanne O'Connor, theme is "that controlling idea or belief as to what is important and unimportant in life." Examples of literary themes are life and death, generational conflict and the power of imagination. Generally, the theme of a short story is never concretely stated. Rather, all the elements of the story revolve around it. Through their words and actions, the characters each contribute something to the story's theme. Identifying the theme or themes at work in the narrative is key to unlocking what the short story is trying to say.