Short Story Elements Trivia Quiz

Answer: exposition

Exposition can happen anywhere in the story, in the very beginning, in the middle, as characters and new situations are introduced, or sometimes, in the short story format, readers aren't given the entire background until the very end as a way of putting more emphasis to the overall plot.

Answer: plot

Plot is one of the basic four elements. In simpler terms, plot is what happens in the story.

Answer: False

Characters are another main element found in the short story. Animals, objects, and even ideas can be direct or indirect characters in a story. In O. Henry's classic short story "The Gift of the Magi" the young couple were the main characters, yet the gifts, the comb and the watch chain, served as the indirect characters of the plot.

Answer: False

The second person point of view is not used commonly, simply because it refers to the "you" point of view, as in reading the story as if it were a letter, so it is a limited point of view, and not an "all knowing" one as in the case of omniscient.

Answer: Setting

Setting is another basic short story element. It gives the where and when of the story, as in the short story setting I gave for "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell. The setting can set the tone for the story as well.

Incidentally, this short story was made into a short film in 1932, but I have yet to locate it. If you have seen it please let me know what you think of it.

Answer: climax

Climax is the high point of the story, the part readers have been waiting for, as everything has been building up to this point. Rising action refers to the complications added to the plot, the resolution is how the conflict was resolved, and the falling action is the action that sometimes occurs right after the climax.

Answer: theme

Theme is another crucial element of the short story as this is the underlying statement, idea, or opinion of the author. In the short story "The Necklace", the main character was not content with being middle class; as a result of a careless mistake, and one of great irony, she learns if she had just told the truth she would have saved herself years of needless pain and misery.

Answer: conflict

Some say conflict is the fifth main element of the short story, and it is true that if there is no problem, there is no story.

Answer: all of the choices

The title's purpose is to intrigue the reader, and instill some curiosity, while at the same time giving a bit of information about the story. We know that "The Pedestrian" by Ray Bradbury is going to involve someone walking, yet "Searching for Summer" by Joan Aiken does not indicate that it is a science fiction piece. Not until we begin to read it do readers understand the title.

Answer: foreshadowing

Foreshadowing is a way of dropping a clue, hinting at later developments in the plot, and can help to tie in reasons for certain occurrences or actions.