Literary Elements

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Literary Elements
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Plot

• The series of events in a story.

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Exposition

• The exposition provides important background
  information.

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Rising Action

• The rising action is the stage of the plot that
  develops the conflict.

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Climax

• The climax is the point of greatest interest in a
  story. The climax usually occurs toward the end
  of a story. At the climax, the conflict is
  resolved and the outcome of the plot becomes
  clear.

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Falling Action

• The falling action is the stage of the plot in
  which the story begins to draw to a close. The
  falling action comes after the climax and before
  the resolution.

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Resolution

• The outcome of the story is fully worked out.
  Sometimes there will be information about what
  comes after the story.

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Theme

• A theme is a message about life that the writer
  shares with the reader. It is the purpose of the
  story or the lesson of the story.

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Conflict

• The conflict is a struggle between opposing
  forces. It is the problem in the story (who is
  fighting or what the fight is about.)
• External conflict a struggle against an outside
  force
• Internal conflict a struggle within a character

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Characters

• Characters are the people, animals, or imaginary
  creatures who take part in the action of a story.
• Main characters the most important characters
• Minor characters the less important characters

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Setting

• The setting of a story is the time and place of
  the action. The setting would include the
  geographic location, historical period, season,
  time of day, and culture.