Literary Elements

the telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events

• narrative

• informational

• expository

• argumentative

the person telling a story

• narrator

• character

• point of view

• dialogue

the time and place (or when and where) of the story

• setting

• narrative

• plot

• exposition

the means by which an author establishes character

an author may directly describe the appearance and personality of a character or show it through action and dialogue

• characterization

• plot

• protagonist

• conflict

the main character of a novel, play, or story

• protagonist

• antagonist

• character

• setting

a major character who opposes the protagonist in a story or play

• protagonist

• antagonist

• setting

• character

two or more characters speaking to each other directly

• dialogue

• conflict

• exposition

• point of view

the main events of a play, novel, movie, etc.

• plot

• conflict

• exposition

• climax

often used at the beginning of a work that provides necessary background information about the characters and their circumstances

• exposition

• rising action

• climax

• falling action

• resolution

the series of conflicts or struggles that build a story toward climax

• exposition

• rising action

• climax

• falling action

• resolution