LITERARY ELEMENTS
TERM
DEFINITION
EXAMPLE
Narrative
A spoken or written account of
connected events (or a story). This can
be fiction or nonfiction.
The Hunger Games; Night
Short Story
A brief work of fiction where (usually)
the main character faces a conflict that
is resolved within the plot of the story.
“The Scarlet Ibis”
(WE LOVE YOU, DOODLE!)
Setting
The time and place of the story’s action
– including the ideas, customs, values,
and beliefs.
In “The Scarlet Ibis,” the setting is in
North Carolina during the early 1900s.
Theme
The central idea or message of a story.
It is often a perception about life or
human nature.
The theme of “Little Red Riding Hood”
might be that one should be suspicious of
situations (and people) that do not appear
the way they should.
Symbol/Symbolism
A concrete object, scene, or action that
has a deeper significance. It is often
connected to an important idea or
theme in a work.
The Mockingjay symbol in The Hunger
Games series
Tone
The attitude the author has toward the
subject, reader, etc.
Teacher: “Ms. Mahoney, here are 180
math problems to complete!”
Ms. Mahoney: “Yay, I can’t wait.”
(tone is sarcastic…and defeated.)
Mood
Evokes certain feelings in readers
through words and descriptions.
“The river, reflecting the clear blue of the
sky, glistened and sparkled as it flowed
noiselessly on…” (evokes a calm and
serene mood)
Characters
Protagonist
The main character of a story.
(Remember that this character is not
always “good!”)
Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)
Antagonist
The character who is in conflict with
the main character of a story.
(Remember that this character is not
always “bad” nor do all stories have
antagonists!)
President Snow (The Hunger Games)
Point of View
First Person
The narrator is a character in the story
and is referred to as “I.”
“The Scarlet Ibis”
Third Person Limited
The narrator reveals the thoughts of
only one character (sometimes none) in
the story and refers to that character as
“he” or “she.”
The Giver
Third Person
Omniscient
The narrator knows information about
every story event and reveals the
thoughts of all characters.
“The Lady, or the Tiger?”
Plot Elements
Exposition
Introduces the story’s characters,
setting, and conflict.
In “The Scarlet Ibis,” the exposition is the
birth of Doodle and the family’s reactions
to his disabilities.
Rising Action
Occurs as complications or twists of
the conflict.
Continuing in “The Scarlet Ibis,” the
rising action is seen as Doodle learning to
walk, the trips to Old Woman’s Swamp
with the narrator, and the arrival (and
death) of the Scarlet Ibis.
