Literary Elements

What makes a great story? Plot, Setting, Characters, Conflict, Symbol, and Point of View are the main elements which fiction writers use to develop a story and its theme.

Plot Plot is the sequence of related events in a work of literature.

What makes up the plot? Exposition: gives background information about the setting and characters Foreshadowing: the use of hints or clues to suggest what will happen later in the story. Inciting Force: the event or character that triggers the conflict. Conflict: the essence of fiction. It creates plot. The conflicts we encounter can usually be identified as one of four kinds. A series of events that builds from the conflict. It begins with the inciting force and ends with the climax. Crisis: the conflict reaches a turning point. At this point the opposing forces in the story meet and the conflict becomes most intense. The crisis occurs before or at the same time as the climax. Climax: the climax is the result of the crisis. It is the high point of the story for the reader. Frequently, it is the moment of the highest interest and greatest emotion. The point at which the outcome of the conflict can be predicted. Falling Action: the events after the climax which close the story. Denouement: the resolution; the aftermath or outcome of the plot; how things are settled in the end

Flashback: a scene that interrupts the action to show an event that happened earlier Epiphany: a moment of understanding, insight, or revelation experienced by a character concerning what is happening to him or her

Setting The setting is the time and place in which events of a literary work take place. There are two types of setting: Physical and Chronological. The physical setting is where the story takes place. The “where” can be very general—a small farming community, for example—or very specific—a two story white frame house at 739 Hill Street in Scott City, Missouri. Likewise, the chronological setting, the “when,” can be equally general or specific.

Character A character is a person, animal, object, creature, or natural force in a work of literature. Protagonist: the main character in a work of literature Antagonist: a character or force that opposes the protagonist; not necessarily a villain or "bad guy" Foil: A character who provides a contrast to the protagonist. Static Character: a character who does not change Dynamic Character: a character who changes in an important way Flat Character: a "one-sided" character; displays only one or two distinguishing traits; usually can be summed up in one sentence Round Character: a character presented in-depth from many angles; may be complex and many-sided

What is Conflict? Conflict: struggle between characters or forces (ideas, actions, desires, goals, etc.) that brings about action internal conflict: occurs within an individual external conflict: occurs when an individual struggles against an outside force (an animal, a force of nature, another character, etc.)

Types of Conflict Man versus Man Conflict that pits one person against another. Man versus Nature A run-in with the forces of nature. On the one hand, it expresses the insignificance of a single human life in the cosmic scheme of things. On the other hand, it tests the limits of a person’s strength and will to live. Man versus Society The values and customs by which everyone else lives are being challenged. The character may come to an untimely end as a result of his or her own convictions. The character may, on the other hand, bring others around to a sympathetic point of view, or it may be decided that society was right after all. Man versus Self Internal conflict. Not all conflict involves other people. Sometimes people are their own worst enemies. An internal conflict is a good test of a character’s values. Does he give in to temptation or rise above it? Does he demand the most from himself or settle for something less? Does he even bother to struggle? The internal conflicts of a character and how they are resolved are good clues to the character’s inner strength.

Symbol A person, place or object which has a meaning in itself but suggests other meanings as well. Things, characters, and actions can be symbols; Anything that suggests a meaning beyond the obvious. Ex: A dove may represent peace

Point of View A story's point of view is the angle or position from which a narrative is told. First-person point of view: the narrator is one of the characters and tells the story in his or her own words; uses the words I, me, we, and us; the reader only knows what the narrator knows and observes Third-person point of view: the narrator is not one of the characters (an outside observer) and uses the words he, she, it, they, and them; the two types of third-person point of view are limited and omniscient; Third-person limited focuses on the feelings and thoughts of one character; third-person omniscient has an "all-knowing" narrator who can describe the thoughts and feelings of all characters (Omni- means "all") Objective/Dramatic point of view: the narrator does not reveal the feelings and thoughts of any character; the narrator only records what is seen and heard; the reader, like a spectator at a movie or play, can only infer what characters feel

Theme Theme isn’t so much an element of fiction as much as the result of the entire story. The theme is the main idea the writer of the poem or story wants the reader to understand and remember. You may have used the word “moral” in discussing theme; but it’s not a good synonym because “moral” implies a positive meaning or idea and not all themes are positive. One word—love, for example—may be a topic; but it cannot be a theme. A theme is a statement about a topic. For example: “The theme of the story is that love is the most important thing in the world.” Not all stories or poems (or films) have an overriding “universal” theme.