Short story analysis

General Questions for the Analysis & Evaluation of Short Stories

PLOT
1. Who is the Protagonist of the story? What are the conflicts? Are they physical, intellectual,
moral or emotional? Is the main conflict between good and evil sharply differentiated, or is it
more subtle and complex?

2. Does the plot have unity? Are all the episodes relevant to the total meaning or effect of the
story? Does
each incident grow logically out of the preceding incident and lead naturally to the next? Is the
ending happy,
unhappy, or undetermined? Is it fairly achieved?

3. What use does the story make of chance and coincidence? Are these occurrences used to
initiate, to
complicate, or to resolve the story? How improbable are they?

4. How is the suspense created in the story? Is the interest confined to examples of mystery? Of
dilemma?

5. What use does the story make of surprise? Are the surprises achieved fairly? Do they serve a
significant
purpose? Do they divert the reader’s attention from weakness in the story?

6. To what extent is this a “formula” story?

CHARACTERS
1. What means does the author use to reveal characters? Are the characters sufficiently
dramatized? What use
is made of character contrast?

2. Are the characters consistent in their actions? adequately motivated? plausible? Does the
author
successfully avoid stock characters?

3. Is each character developed enough to justify his role in the story? Are the main characters
round or flat?

4. Are any of the characters a developing character? If so, is his/her change a large or small one?
Is it a
plausible change for him/her? Is he/she sufficiently motivated? Is she/he given sufficient time?

THEME
1. Does the story have a theme? What is it? Is it implicit or explicit?

2. Does the theme reinforce or oppose popular notions of life? Does it furnish a new insight or
refresh or
deepen an old one?

POINT OF VIEW
1. What point of view does the story use? Is it consistent in its use of this point of view? If shifts
are made, are
they justified?

2. What are the advantages of the chosen point of view? Does it furnish any clues as to the
purpose of the
story?

3. If the point of view is that of one of the characters, does this character have any limitations
that affect his/her
interpretation of events or persons?

4. Does the author use point of view primarily to reveal or conceal? Does he/she unfairly withhold
important
information known to the focal character?

SYMBOLISM AND IRONY

1. Does the meaning of the story make use of symbols? If so, do the symbols carry or merely
reinforce the
meaning of the story?

2. Does the story utilize irony of situation? dramatic irony? verbal irony? What functions do the
ironies
serve?

EMOTION AND HUMOUR

1. Does the story aim directly at an emotional effect, or is emotion merely its natural by-product?

2. Is the emotion sufficiently dramatized? Is the author anywhere guilty of sentimentality?

FANTASY
1. Does the story employ fantasy? If so, what is the initial assumption? Does the story operate
logically from
this assumption?

2. Is the fantasy employed for its own sake, or to express some human truth? If the latter, what
truth?

GENERAL
1. Is the primary interest of the story in the plot, character, theme, or some other element?

2. What contribution to the story is made by the setting? Is the particular setting essential, or
could the story
have happened anywhere?

3. What are the characteristics of the author’s style? Are they appropriate to the nature of the
story?

4. What light is thrown on the story by its title?

5. Do all the elements of the story work together to support the central purpose? Is any part
irrelevant or
inappropriate?

6. What do you conceive to be the story’s central purpose? How fully has the story achieved that
purpose?

7. Does the story chiefly offer escape or does it have greater significance? How lofty is the story’s
purpose?

8. Does the story gain or lose on a second reading?

 Explain the title in what way is it suitable to the story?
 What is the predominant element in the story – plot, theme, character or setting?
 Who is the single main character main character about whom the story centers?
 What sort of conflict confronts the leading character or characters? External Or Internal
 How is the conflict resolved?
 How does the author handle characterization? By description? Conversation of characters?
Actions of the characters? Combination of these methods?
 Where does the primary action take place?
 How much time does the story cover? A few minutes? A life time? How long?
 How does the story get started? What is the initial incident?
 Briefly describe the rising action of the story?
 What is the high point or climax of the story?
 Discuss the falling action or close of the story?
 Does the story create any special mood?
 Is this story realistic or true to life? Explain your answers by giving examples.
 Are the events or incidents of the plot presented in flashback or in chronological order?
 Was the selection written as a short story or is it a condensation or excerpt? Is it taken from a
collection of stories?
 What is the general theme of the story? What is the underlying theme? Can you name any
other stories with a similar theme?
 Does the story contain any one of the following elements? Symbolism, incongruity, suspense,
surprise ending, irony, satire. Explain.
 Was there a villain in the story? A hero? A dynamic character?
 Can you find any examples of figurative language? A simile, A metaphor, A personification.
 Does the story contain a single effect or impression for the reader? If so what?
 Name one major personality trait of each leading character, and tell hoe the author makes the
reader conscious of this trait.
 Does the story have a moral? If not, what do you think the purpose of the author was?