Short Story Sentences

Plot

-introduction - When the narrative character (The Narrator) is describing the setting. "It was getting on toward six o'clock so I thought I'd buy myself a beer and go out and sit in a deck chair by the swimming pool and have a little evening sun."



-conflict (man vs man/man vs himself) (internal/external) - Man vs Man (Sailor vs Gambler), Man vs Self (Sailor vs His Thoughts), and Man Vs Self (Vacationer vs His Thoughts)


-rising action - When the sailor lights the lighter 8 times in a row.


-climax - When the lady walks in. "Eight!" I said, and as I said it the door opened. We all turned and we saw a woman standing in the doorway, a small, black-haired woman, rather old, who stood there for about two seconds then rushed forward shouting, "Carlos! Carlos!"

-falling action - When the lady reveals who the Cuban guy really is.


-denouement - When the lady grabs the keys to her Cadillac and you see her fingers.

Character

- protagonist (main character) - The Narrator and Sailor because of the conflicts present in the story.

- antagonist (force opposing the main character) - The Gambler and The Narrator and Sailor's thoughts. "There was a silence then, and I could see that the little man has succeeded in disturbing the boy with his absurd proposal. He was sitting there very still, and it was obvious that a small tension was beginning to build up inside him. Then he started shifting about in his seat, and rubbing his chest, and stroking the back of his neck, and finally he placed both hands on his knees and began tapping his fingers against his knee-caps. Soon he was tapping with one of his feet as well. 'Now just let me check up on this bet of yours,' he said at last. 'You say we go up to your room and if I make this lighter light ten times running I win a Cadillac. If it misses just once then I forfeit the little finger of my left hand. Is that right?'" (This part being his thoughts kicking in about his pinky.)

-static (remains the same) - The British Girl because she doesn't speak much and she only talks about how stupid she thinks the bet is stupid. 


-round (complex with many characteristics) - The Gambler because we know the most about him, like how he's not actually rich, and the fact that he collects fingers.

- flat (single or simple characteristics) - The British Girl again because she doesn't do much in the story. 

- stock character (stereotype) - The Sailor because "Americans will risk anything for their greed"

- dynamic (changes throughout) - The Gambler, he goes from chilled, nice guy to crazy and weird psychopath.

Setting

-time - The time is evening which is mentioned in the intro.

-place - The place where the story takes place is at a hotel in Jamaica

-atmosphere - the atmosphere goes paradisal to unsettling and a little strange (entering the hotel room)

Theme

Not to gamble or trust a stranger. You never know who they truly are.

Point of View

-first person - The narration of the Referee throughout the story is in first person because it uses words like "I"


-third person (omniscient, limited omniscient, objective/limited) -

Foreshadowing

When the sailor lit his cigarette and the Referee's cigarette, he then started having thoughts that his lighter is working, which it did during the bet but it was interrupted.