Elements of a Story
Any person, animal, or figure represented in a literary work.
Characters
What type of conflict is this? Harry Potter & Voldemort
Person v. Person
The story is told from the perspective of a character in the story, using the pronouns "I", "me", "my", and "myself".
First person POV
When the audience knows more than one or more of the characters.
Dramatic Irony
The main character in a story.
Protagonist
The sequence of events that take place in a story.
Plot
What type of conflict is this? Hamlet wrestles with his conscience as he contemplates whether to avenge his father's murder by killing his uncle Claudius.
Person v. Self
A technique where the narrator addresses the reader using the pronoun "you". Commonly found in self help books.
Second person POV
When the opposite of what is expected to happen comes true.
Situational Irony
An object that stands for something else.
Symbol/ Symbolism
The time, place, and environment in which a story takes place.
Setting
What type of conflict is being described? Into the Wild book and movie tells the true story of Christopher McCandless, who abandoned his material possessions to become an adventurer in the Alaskan wilderness.
Person v. Nature
A narrative style where the narrator is neutral and detached, and only reports what they can see and hear.
Third person objective
When someone says the opposite of what they really mean. Often used as sarcasm.
Verbal Irony
The author's use of hints or clues to suggest events that will happen later in the story.
Foreshadowing
A struggle between opposing forces that drives a story forward.
Conflict
What type of conflict is being described? In The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen leads an uprising against the Capitol.
Person v. Society
A narrative style where the narrator only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character.
Third person limited
What type of irony is shown? When there's a hurricane raging outside and someone remarks "what lovely weather we're having."
Verbal Irony
The climate or feeling in a story. This can change during the course of the novel or short story.
Mood
A unifying element that communicates a deeper message about life, society, or humanity.
Theme
What type of conflict is being described? A classic hero tale tends to explore how everyone has the capacity for good and evil deep down inside of them. The main character, feeling the draw toward evil, must overcome their own ego to accept the peaceful path.
Person v. Self
The narrator is all-knowing and can access the thoughts, feelings, and actions of all characters in the story.
Third person omniscient
What type of irony is shown?
Situational Irony
The author's attitude, stated or implied, about toward a subject.
Tone