Introduction to Literary
Elements
Short Story Unit
Literature & Composition
Fiction
 Prose/narrative (story form
writing) about imaginary people,
places and events
 Something that is made up--- not
factual
 Can seem realistic
Plot
Climax
Exposition
Resolution
(Denouement)
Turning Point (Inciting Incident)
Foreshadowing
 The use of clues or hints by the
author to prepare the reader for what
will happen later
 Can use background information,
mood & music
Conflict
 Character vs. Character
 Character vs. Society
 Character vs. Self
 Character vs. Nature
 Character vs. Technology/Machine
 Character vs. Supernatural/Deity
Characterization
 What the character says
 What the character does
 What the character thinks/feels
 What other characters say & think about
him/her
 The character’s physical appearance or
environment
Dynamic Characters
 Those who transform or evolve in
the story; usually major characters
Static Characters
 Those who do NOT change or
grow, but remain the same; usually
minor characters
Protagonist
 The character with whom the reader
is meant to sympathize
 The character who grows or learns
something
 Often the “hero”
Antagonist
 The character (or force) who stands
in conflict with the protagonist
 Often the “villain”
Setting
 Time/When
 Place/Where
 Social Atmosphere (affected by
historical era, social movements, and
crises)
Tone
• The author’s attitude toward
his/her subject
• Emotion words are used to label
this element in a story (e.g. –
angry, indifferent, excited, sad)
Mood / Atmosphere
 The reader’s emotional response to
the characters and events of a story
 Often influenced by setting and
tone
 Emotion words also used here
Symbols
 Concrete objects that suggest
abstract ideas
 Something that stands for
something else
 For example: red rose=love
Point of View: Perspective
 First person: narrator is a character in the
story (“I” perspective) – can be unreliable!
 Third person limited: story is told through
the thoughts & feelings of ONE character - the
reader may feel like she is looking “over the
shoulder” of a character (“S/he”perspective)
 Third person omniscient: narrator is NOT a
character in the story; story is told from a godlike perspective; can relate knowledge about
all characters at any time
Irony
 Situational: when the opposite of
what is expected occurs
 Verbal: when a character says one
thing but means another (the
opposite)
 Dramatic: when the
audience/reader knows something
that a character does not know
Theme
 The universal truth revealed about
life
 Must be stated in a complete
sentence
 Avoids using clichés, giving advice
or stating a rule