Literary Elements I
time and place of a story
setting
the main character in a story
protagonist
the beginning of a story - the reader is introduced to the characters and setting
exposition
the main character is struggling with making a decision, for example
man vs. himself
the sequence of events in a story
plot
the character who opposes the main character
antagonist
the actions regarding the main character and his/her conflicts begin to build
rising action
the main characters are struggling with a storm, volcano, ocean, animal, etc.
man vs. nature
all of the events that happen in a story
action
the emotional quality of a story
mood
the high point of the story - the action takes a significant turn in a different direction
climax
a lesson that a story teaches
moral
the person telling the story
narrator
a struggle between the main character and another force in a story
conflict
the action following the climax that leads to the story's end
falling action
the main character is an outcast
man vs. society
a person or animal in the story
character
conversations between characters
dialogue
the end of the story when the main character's conflicts have been resolved
resolution
a message about life in general that is delivered through a story
theme