The setting of a story provides a background for the action and events. A short story may have more than one setting, while some stories have a common setting. For example, in the short story collection “Sideways Stories from Wayside School,” each tale takes place in a kooky setting known as Wayside School.
The conflicts within a story are struggles between two opposing forces. These forces usually take on a physical form. For example, in “Jack and the Beanstalk” the main conflict is between a boy and a giant who lives in the sky. However, conflicts may also be internal, pitting the main character against his insecurities or bad habits.
The decisions and actions made by the characters influence the direction of the plot. In most cases, characters develop throughout the story by learning important lessons. Characters don’t necessarily have to be humans. For example, in “Sneakers, the Seaside Cat,” the main character is an animal with human traits.
The theme of a short story is the main idea behind the plot. For example, in “Mr. Peabody’s Apples,” the story focuses on the strength of words and gossip. In “We Are Best Friends,” the major themes include loneliness and friendship.
The point of view allows the writer to reveal the story from a certain perspective. For example, in the first person perspective, the events are revealed through the eyes of a single character, while in the omniscient perspective, the narration can follow multiple characters and events.
The plot encompasses the chain of events within a story. In most short stories for early readers, the plot follows a simple, chronological path. However, some stories may feature flashbacks, which reveal past events out of chronological order.