Plot Character Conflict Theme Setting

8 Elements of a Story Explained

What are the chief ELEMENTS OF A STORY?

Story Elements:

Setting
Grapheme
Plot
Conflict
Theme
Point-of-view
Tone
Way

These are the bones elements of a story that you learn virtually in elementary school:

one. Setting: Where and when is the story ready? Setting represents both the physical location but as well the time (i.e. past, present, future) and the social and cultural conditions in which the characters exist.

two. Character: A person or animal or really anything personified. At that place tin can be ane master character or many, and oft there are secondary characters, merely not always.

3. Plot: The plot consists of the events that happen in the story. In a plot yous typically find an introduction, ascension action, a climax, the falling action, and a resolution. Plot is ofttimes represented as an arc. To learn most plot in detail, read the article: "What is a Plot."

4. Conflict: Every story must accept a conflict, i.eastward. a claiming or problem around which the plot is based. Without disharmonize, the story will take no purpose or trajectory.

5. Theme: Idea, belief, moral, lesson or insight. It'southward the central argument that the author is trying to make the reader empathise. The theme is the "why" of the story.

In loftier schoolhouse, you kickoff learning the advanced elements of a story:

half dozen. Point-of-view: "Who" is telling the story? Offset person ("I") or third person ("he/she/it"). Limited (one character's perspective), multiple (many characters' perspectives) or all-seeing (all knowing narrator). Second person ("you") is not often used for writing stories.

vii. Tone: The overall emotional "tone" or meaning of the story. Is it happy, funny, sad, depressed? Tone can be portrayed in multiple ways, through word and grammar choices, choice of theme, imagery and description, symbolism, and the sounds of the words in combination (i.eastward. rhyme, rhythm, musicality).

8. Style: This is how things are said. Word choices, judgement structure, dialogue, metaphor, simile, hyperbole. Style contributes significantly to tone.

Literary Essay: How and Why

When analyzing a piece of literature for a paper or essay, you're basically looking for "how and why." Explicate how the author used the to a higher place elements of a story (or ane of the in a higher place elements) and why they are pregnant, or why they work or don't work, or alternatively, why you like or don't like them. If y'all sympathize one or more of these elements in depth, you'll be well on your mode to a quality literary essay.

To acquire well-nigh PLOT in item, read the article: " What is a Plot of a Story? "

Are you teaching this topic? Here'due south a perfectly printable PDF of the elements of a story.

Check out 10 Steps to an A+ Essay to come across our formula for acing an essay! A helpful infographic is also provided.

Looking for a volume on this topic? Effort The Elements of Story: Field Notes on Nonfiction by New York Times Editor, Francis Flaherty.

Need to reinforce your structural techniques? Visit The 7 Main Story Elements and Why They Matter, a blog post past New York Times bestselling author, Jerry B. Jenkins.

*This article updated on July 29, 2022.

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