5 Important Elements
of a Short Story
The 5 key elements that make up a short story are:
Characters
Setting
Conflict
Theme
Plot
1
, Character
A character is a person, or sometimes an animal, who
takes part in the action of a short story or other literary
work.
Characters and how we get to know them:
Through the author’s physical description of them
Through their actions
Through their words (dialogue)
Through their inner thoughts
Through what other characters say and think about them
2
of a Short Story
The 5 key elements that make up a short story are:
Characters
Setting
Conflict
Theme
Plot
1
, Character
A character is a person, or sometimes an animal, who
takes part in the action of a short story or other literary
work.
Characters and how we get to know them:
Through the author’s physical description of them
Through their actions
Through their words (dialogue)
Through their inner thoughts
Through what other characters say and think about them
2
