By: Catherine Mick
It is very important to have a good understanding
of the different Elements of Literature in order to
get the full effect of a story. In this presentation I
will provide you with a good sense of these
different elements. I will describe the Plot
Diagram, Plot Elements, Characterization, Setting,
Point of View, and Theme. To help display the
idea of these different elements I will be using
examples from the story “The Gift of the Magi.”
To start off I will describe the Plot Elements and
show you a Plot Diagram.

ExpositionIntroduction of settings & characters
 Sets the tone & mood
 Provides background information


Inciting Incident

Event that introduces the central conflict
Rising ActionDevelops conflict and complications
 Leads to climax


Climax

Falling Action

Events that follow the climax
Resolution

High point of interest or suspense
Central conflict is ended
DénouementWhat follows the resolution
 Ties up loose ends

Climax
Exposition
Inciting
Incident
Resolution
Dénouement
Exposition
Inciting
Incident



Income was shrunk
Introduced to Mrs. James
Dillingham Young (Della)
Introduced to Mr. James
Dillingham Young (Jim)
Climax
Resolution
Dénouement
Need present for
each other

Climax
Exposition
Inciting
Incident
Resolution
Dénouement

Jim’s gold watch is a
prized possession
 Della’s long hair is a
prized possession
 She’s been saving
for months and
only has $1.87
Climax
Exposition
Inciting
Incident
Resolution
Dénouement

Della Cuts Her Hair
Climax
Exposition
Inciting
Incident
Resolution
Dénouement
Gets money for
present
Searches store for
present


Climax
Exposition
Inciting
Incident
Resolution
Dénouement
Buys Jim a nice gold
chain for watch

Climax
Exposition
Inciting
Incident
Resolution
Dénouement
Exposition
Inciting
Incident
Resolution



Jim sold watch to buy
combs for Della’s hair
Della sold her hair to buy
chain for Jim’s watch
They gave each other their
love
Climax
Dénouement
The Dénouement is what follows the resolution and ties
up loose ends. In the dénouement for “The Gift of the
Magi” Jim sold his watch to buy combs for Della’s hair
and Della sold her hair to buy a chain for Jim’s watch.
This shows how two people love each other so much they
sold their prized possession to buy a gift for the other.
They are “wise” like the magi because they know that
their love for each other will never die if they think of the
other person first and don’t place material objects in front
of the other.
Characterization are all the things that make up a
character including looks, feelings, thoughts, etc. We can
find these things out through direct and indirect
characterization. In “The Gift of the Magi” the major
characters are Jim and Della, and Madame Sofronie as a
minor character. The author uses indirect characterization.
This is when the reader uses clues that are given to figure
out information about the character. The different parts of
a story the reader could look at are speech, thoughts,
effects on others, actions, and appearance.
One example of indirect characterization in “The Gift of
the Magi” is when Della is looking at her hair and the
narrator states “her eyes were shining brilliantly, but her
face had lost its color within twenty seconds.” The reader
could infer from this that she is very fond of her hair and
wants to keep it, but realizes she needs to cut it for money.
Another would be when the reader forms an idea of what
Della looks like when the narrator says “So now Della’s
beautiful hair fell about her rippling and shining like a
cascade of brown waters.” When Della cuts her hair this
shows how she is a loving person and thinks of others
before herself. The last example I will talk about is the
effect Della has on Jim. This is when he talks about how
he still loves Della even though she cut her hair. As a
reader you could infer that Della has a lovable personality
and not just good looks.
The setting of a story is the location as well as the
time in which it occurs. The setting of a story tells
the reader many things. The physical details of
setting can become linked with values, ideas, and
attitudes. It also gives us clues about the theme of
a story.
To help understand the story “The Gift of the Magi” it is
important to know when and where it takes place. The
story resides in New York City around Christmas. This is
important because it gives us a reason as to why Jim and
Della need gifts for each other. The narrator states, “In the
vestibule below was a letter-box into which no letter
would go, and an electric button from which no mortal
finger could coax a ring.” The reader could use this to
infer information about the characters background and
that the Dillingham Young’s had money difficulties in the
past.
Point of view is the way the author allows you to see and
hear what's going on. A story can be written in first
person, second person, third person omniscient, or third
person limited. First person is when the reader sees the
story through the narrator’s eyes. Second person is when
the reader is drawn into the story. Third person
omniscient is when every characters thoughts are open to
the reader. Third person limited is when the reader is
open to one character’s thoughts and actions.
Throughout “The Gift of the Magi” the narrator uses
words like they, he, and her, which are key words in
deciding that a story is written in third person. We can
further narrow down the point of view to being third
person limited. This is because the narrator follows Della
throughout the story and not Jim. A rare thing that
happens in this story is that it occasionally comes out of
third person narration and into second person narration.
This shows up in a couple of paragraphs when there are
words such as you, and I. In the beginning of ”The Gift of
the Magi” the tone would be sad and serious, because
Della cannot purchase a present for Jim. But as the reader
nears the end, the tone changes to happy and loving
because Della and Jim both realize the other loves them
very much.
The theme of a story is the idea or view about life that the
story expresses. There are many different ways to uncover
theme. Such as asking questions or finding different
allusions made through out the story. To find theme you
can look in places such as the title, repeating patterns,
details, and what a character learns.
The theme of “The Gift of the Magi” is, that the wisest
people know our love means more than material things.
Looking at the title for clues can be helpful because it tells
us about the Magi. The character Della also learns that this
is true when her and Jim sold their prized possessions and
bought useless gifts but still love each other. One example
would be when Jim states, “I don’t think there’s anything
in the way a haircut or a shave or a shampoo that could
make me like my girl any less.” This shows that he loves
her no matter what she does or doesn’t have. Another
example about being wise and thinking of others is when
the narrator states, “O all who give and receive gifts, such
they are the wisest.”
As I have stated before, understanding the
Elements of Literature is very important to get the
full effect of a story. I have provided you with a
good sense of these different elements and how
they apply to “The Gift of the Magi. You know
have a good idea of what a plot diagram, plot
elements, characterization, setting, point of view,
and theme are. I hope you can use these to help
you comprehend any story when you need it.