Short Story
Template
Title and Author
What is the title of the work?
Who wrote the work?
Narrator (Point of View)
1st person
the narrator is a character in the story, usually
but not always the main character. They typically
use I, me, our, we, or my.
3rd Person
not a part of the story’s action. Uses he, she, and
they.
Omniscient
knows everything about all characters in the
story.
Setting
The where and the when.
Both time and place.
Protagonist
The main character of a literary work.
He or she typically encounters some
problem or obstacle early in the plot.
Antagonist
Can be a person, a group of people, a force
of nature (hurricane, etc.), or something
within the protagonist’s personality
(jealousy, etc.).
Irony
Verbal Irony
The difference between what a character says
and what he or she means.
Situational Irony
When events are opposite of what is expected.
Dramatic Irony
When the audience or reader knows more about
a character’s situation than the character does.
Mood
Refers to the atmosphere or feeling
expressed by a work.
For example: joyous, gloomy, depressing,
peaceful, suspenseful, serious, etc.
Ambiguity
Allows something to be understood in many
different ways.
Stories that have no ending are often called
ambiguous.
When reading, if you don’t know how some
event turns out, it’s probably ambiguous.
Imagery
Language that appeals to a reader’s five
senses, as well as those senses that are
felt inside: hunger, pain, sadness, fear, or
joy.
Imagery helps the reader feel as if they are
there, inside the story hearing, seeing,
tasting, touching, smelling the same things
as the characters.
Author’s Purpose
What is the reason the author wrote this
piece?
To explain/inform
To entertain
To persuade
Theme
The main idea in a literary work.
Step 1: Identify the “big ideas” or
central topics
Themes appear as ideas throughout the
story and are expressed through what
different characters do, think, or say.
They are views about life and how people
act.
Look at the title; it often gives clues.
Common topics for themes
Common Topics for Themes
Ambition Identity
Change Independence
Childhood Justice
Choices Loss
Courage Love
Culture Loyalty
Differences Money
Faith Power
Family Prejudice
Freedom Relationships
Friendship Revenge
Future Secrets
Growing up Success
Hope Trust
Human needs Truth
War
Step 2: Find out what the characters do
or say that relates to the central topics.
Once you identify a topic, see what the
author says about it and how the
characters’ actions relate to the idea.
Clues:
Repeated words, ideas, or symbols
Images and metaphors
Important plot events or dialogue
Changes in characters’ actions, beliefs, or values
Step 3: State what the author says
about life that relates to the C.T.
List the big idea or main topic,
Tell the details of what the characters say
or do that relates to that topic,
Write what is important to learn about this
topic in the form of a theme statement.
Tips for making theme statements
1. State your idea.
Do not summarize the story. Complete the
following sentence: “The point the author makes
is that…”
2. Use precise words.
Do use simple words like good, bad, important.
These words make it hard to get your point
across.
3. Do not use characters’ names
Theme Statements
One sentence to sum up work.
A complete sentence.
Should describe the general meaning of the
work, not the specific events, actions, or
characters.
It is better to have loved and lost than
never to have loved at all.