If ever there was a good time to read short stories and analyze them, it is now. Professors are finding it useful to assign students short stories that they can read and analyze. They are a preference given that they are relatively shorter and less complex than plays or novels.
If you have been asked to analyze a short story, then you know how hard the process is. Analyzing a short story involves considering the basic elements and considering how they all contribute to the overall essence of the story. Even though they are much shorter, analyzing these stories could prove problematic when you do not know where to begin.
This article lists the basic elements of a short story and provides a quick guide on the process of analyzing any short story.
The following are the seven basic elements of a short story: character, plot, setting, conflict, and theme. Having all these elements will make a great story.
These are the driving forces behind the story. Characters could be a person, animal, or object/thing used to perform the actions, dialogue, and thoughts necessary to drive the plot of the story forward and engage readers. Key traits and motivations influence their decisions. In a short story, characters must be developed quickly.
Unlike a novel, a short story can have only one character, usually the protagonist, and be a complete story. Their conflict may be with themselves (inner) or with a natural occurrence or supernatural being. However, most stories have multiple characters.
The setting of a short story is the time and place of the period (that passes from start to finish) in which the story the author is writing about occurs. The place can be either a real physical location or a made-up one, and the time could be the past, present, or future.
Authors of short stories use descriptions of the environment, buildings, seasons, and weather to give readers a vivid sense of the setting.
The best definition of a plot is a sequence interconnected of events that compose a story. It is part of the story that provides a comprehensive narration. Without a plot, the story is simply a story where characters don’t do anything. Thus, it is more than simply an account of what has occurred but a revelation of the cause-and-effect relationship between the events in the story.
The plot in a story includes the following key elements:
Conflict is a struggle between two or more opposing forces, usually the characters, due to disagreements about values, desires, and motivation, among other things. These characters must overcome this disagreement to achieve a common goal.
In most stories, the premise starts with a character needing something but being faced with a single obstacle or various obstacles that they must overcome to get it. In most cases, the characters know how to overcome these obstacles, which is why they always struggle.
Consider what keeps you hooked to a story that has stuck with you: the tension and conflict that the protagonist has against someone because of what they cannot get.
Like the other elements, conflict is an essential part of a short story that drives the story forward. Without conflict, there cannot be anything worth writing about concerning the protagonist.
A theme is the main message the author wants readers to draw from reading it. In other words, it is the underlying meaning behind the story, which in most cases is a reflection of life, human interactions, or society. This could be either explicit or implicit. Examples of themes in short stories include love, revenge, losses and grief, death, forgiveness, bravery, hardships, redemption, etc.
Understanding the theme of a story early on will make it more interesting to read. You can easily connect with the characters and the plot in a meaningful way, and this will encourage you to draw the deeper meaning of the story.
The point of view, also known as POV, is the narrator's position in the story. How a story is told will have a significant impact on its appeal. Please dont confuse the narrator of the story as the author. The author uses the point of view and narrator as tools to narrate a story in a particular way. In addition, the narrator does not necessarily express the opinions of the author.
There are three main types of point of view in a story: first-person, second-person, and third-person. The second-person point of view is rarely used and is hard to pull off. The third-person point of view is where the author narrates the story about the characters, only referring to them by their names and third-person pronouns such as “he, she, and they.” The author deeply understands the thoughts, feelings, and opinions of the characters.
Symbolism is the use of something to represent another. The author uses words, images, and objects to symbolize people's specific concepts or particular events in the story. In other words, symbolism means that you can look at something and conclude that it represents something more than what it is. For instance, you could look at the flame and conclude that it represents eternity.
Now that you understand the elements of a story, here is a step-by-step process on how to analyze it. In the first-person point of view, the narrator is a character in the story.
Before you begin analyzing the story, find out what the story is about by gathering all the essential information, such as the following:
Finding every piece of information about the author will give you insight into why the story was written. You will learn who the author was, their experiences, their viewpoint of the world, and the conventions they used, which will help form an opinion about the choices they made, especially for the elements in the story.
While this might seem irrelevant, having this information readily available will provide a contextual understanding of what you are about to analyze. Additionally, understanding this information will help illuminate the themes, style, and intended audience of the story.
Take time to read the whole story to get a gist of what is happening. Make sure you pay attention to every word, phrase, and the context of the story. The initial tale allows you to grasp the basic outline of and immerse yourself in the narrative.
Consider dividing the story into sections and then reading each of them separately while taking notes of the main point related to each element of the story. Note-taking is a great way to ensure the organization of your thoughts and ideas, allowing you to understand every single detail in the story.
When taking notes, use your own words to summarize the plot in your own words, focusing on key events, characters, and the setting. You do not need to cover all the main points, just the basics of the story. For instance, if you come across a complex character or an interesting subplot or subtheme, write it down.
These short notes will come in handy when you analyze the story. Ensure you pay attention to the author's main concepts, especially those that you find fascinating and their main point of view.
Take note of the main elements of the story that have helped create the overall narrative. Consider the key events, such as how the author introduces the characters and the setting of the story. The best way to do this is by breaking down the story into individual elements. Begin with the plot.
Ask yourself the following questions when analyzing each of the following elements;
Ensure you evaluate how the plot unfolds and develops the themes of the story.
When you share an argument as part of your story analysis, make sure you follow it up with relevant examples and evidence. Consider paraphrasing/ summarizing or providing quotes from the passage as examples to support your ideas or arguments.
Providing reliable academic sources for your analysis will give your work credibility and help readers understand your point of view.
Writing a quality analysis of a story is a great way to dive into the deeper meaning of a short story. When writing the analysis of a short story, ensure that you signpost your ideas, display a solid understanding of the story, have a better organizational structure, and completely cover all the aspects as per the rubric.
Please note that an analysis of a short story is not a summary but an interpretation of the argument based on the story.
By following the above elements and steps, you can effectively argue about the meaning of a short story, including why it causes certain reactions among readers.
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