A short story is, by definition "an invented prose narrative shorter than a novel usually dealing with a few characters and aiming at unity of effect and often concentrating on the creation of mood rather than plot" (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary). Short stories contain certain elements, which consist of the following: plot, characters, theme and setting. In addition, the Short story is told from a specific point of view. All the elements of a short story are used in a specific way in order to comment on a part of our lives as members in a collective society. In order to have a story there must be a series of circumstances known as a plot. A plot is a causal sequence of events, the "why" for the things that happen in the story. The plot brings the reader into the character's lives and gives the reader a better understanding of the character. A plot's structure is the way in which the story elements are arranged. Writers vary structure depending on the needs of the story. Plot consists of exposition, conflict, complication, climax, and resolution. Short stories always have all the plot elements in them. First we have exposition which is the introductory information. Second there is conflict which is the introduction of the problem. Then we have the complication which is the tension builder of the story. Following the complication is the climax which is the highest point of action and is the turning point in the story. Resolution is the final piece of the puzzle and it is the result of the story or also called denouement. The next element to the short story is the characters.
Characters are the people or things that the story is about. All main characters have significance to the story. These characters, their actions, personalities and values reflect and help illustrate the sole purpose of the story. Maupassant developed an array of different characters such as aristocrats, nuns and even a hooker in order to reveal the main idea of the issues involving the classes in society.
