**Examples written in the table are from the story “All Summer and a Day”

Literary
Elements / Definition
Setting / The setting in a story refers to the time and place where the story occurs. A story can have more than one setting.
Example:
Characterization / -A character is a persona played in a novel, movie, or play. They are the people we follow in stories. (There are 2 types of characters)
  1. Dynamic- A dynamic character is a person who changes over time. Example:
  2. Static- A static character is someone who does not change over time. Example:
-Protagonist vs Antagonist
  • A protagonist is the central person in a story, always the main character.
  • An antagonist is the character or characters who oppose the main character.
*the protagonist is not always the “good guy”
Example:
Plot / Plot is the basic sequence or order of a story. Traditional stories have a plot that includes 5 parts:
  1. Exposition- This usually occurs at the beginning of a short story. Here the characters are introduced. We also learn about the setting of the story. Most importantly, we are introduced to the main conflict (main problem). Example:
  1. Rising Action- This part of the story begins to develop the conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense occurs and leads to the climax. Complications arise. Example:
  1. Climax-This is the turning point of the story. Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict. The main character will change in some way. This is the most intense moment. Example:
  1. Falling Action-Action that follows the climax and ultimately leads to the resolution. Example:
  1. Resolution- The conclusion; all loose ends are tied up.
Either the character defeats the problem, learns to live with the problem, or the problem defeats the character. Example:
Conflict / -A conflict is A serious disagreement, argument or dispute (2 types)
  1. Internal Conflict- a struggle within a character’s mind. This kind of conflict happens when a character must deal with opposing thoughts or feelings.
  • Character vs Self- The conflict between Man and his/herself occurs when a figure develops an internal struggle between his/her thoughts and ideas. Example:
  1. External Conflict- a struggle between a character and an outside force. This force might be another character, a group of characters, or nature.
  • Character vs character- In this conflict, two people or characters are in conflict with each other. Example:
  • Character vs nature- In this type of conflict, there is a force from nature such as a hurricane, trying to survive in the wilderness that is going against the main character. Example:
  • Character vs society- When the main character is going up against society of the government. Example:

Theme / Theme is a stories central, general message, the main idea, the controlling topic about life or people the author wants to get across. To discover the theme of a story, think big.
  • What big message is the author trying to say about the world in which we live?
  • What is this story telling me about how life works, or how people behave?
The theme is also the practical lesson (moral) that we learn from a story after we read it. The lesson that teaches us what to do or how to behave after you have learned something from a story or something that has happened to you.
Example: