Final answer:
To qualify as a survival story, the plot must feature a life-threatening situation, which is integral to creating the tension and stakes that engage readers.
Step-by-step explanation:
To qualify as a survival story, a plot must feature a life-threatening situation. This element is crucial because it creates the tension and stakes necessary to engage the audience, as they follow the protagonist's efforts to overcome extreme challenges. While it is common for survival stories to be set in isolated places and to have nature as an antagonist, which introduces additional obstacles and heightens the story's drama, these are not strictly required. Similarly, the death of a major character can increase the emotional impact of the story, but it is not a defining characteristic of a survival story.
What defines a survival story is the focus on a character's (whether human or non-human) attempts to withstand and survive through a dire situation that poses immediate danger to their well-being or life. This can also be seen in the structural elements of a short story where there is typically a compact narrative with a clear conflict, climax, and resolution, often encapsulating the protagonist's struggle against adversity.
Character growth and development are also notable in these plots, as the characters are frequently tested to their limits, resulting in revealing their inner strength or weaknesses. Furthermore, the significance of the story is not solely about the survival itself but also about what the audience can glean from the characters' experiences and the overarching themes presented within the tale.