Literature Elements: Setting, Character, Theme, Plot & More

Literature Elements:

These refer to the constituent parts of a work of literature, present in different forms like prose, poetry, or drama.

Literature elements consist of –

• Setting: It comprises two key elements, space and time. Space refers to the geographical location of the story. It deals with the ‘where’ part of a story. Time refers to the ‘when’ part of the story. Other critical aspect of a setting includes weather, social/cultural context, surroundings, etc.
• Character: A character is a person, animal, being, creature, or thing in a story. Characters are the doers /performers of actions in a story. They also deliver dialogues and move the plot of a story. Types of character: Major and minor. Significant characters are of two types- 
• Protagonist: The story’s main character. The story revolves around this character. 
• Antagonist: Opponent of the main character, often the story’s villain.
• Minor characters move the story forward.
• Theme: It is a universal idea, moral lesson, or central message of a story, for example,love, courage, loyalty, etc.
• Plot: A plot is the sequence of events that make up a story, specifically how the story begins, unfolds in the middle, and moves in time to reach an end. Essential elements of a plot are:–
• Exposition: Introduction of the story. Setting and characters are introduced along with the background.
•  Conflict: Central problem. It serves as the focal point and driving force of a story. Conflict usually takes two forms, external and internal conflict. External conflict occurs between antagonist and protagonist. The internal conflict between self and character.
• Rising action: The rising action builds on the tension and adds to the magnitude of the conflict. 
• The climax is the highest point of tension or drama in a story. Tension finally reaches its breaking point. Also called as ‘turning point’ of a story.
• Falling action: It moves towards closure of the conflict. Tension dips down. Characters work towards the solution.
• Resolution: Conflict gets resolved at the end. The situation returned to normalcy.
• Point of View: It refers to the perspective through which the readers experience the story’s events. Types of point of view-
• First Person: Main character’s viewpoint. Use of pronouns such, I, we.
• Second Person: Directly addresses the readers with the use of pronoun – you.
• Third Person: Omniscient –The narrator shows the viewpoint of different characters.
• Third Person: Limited- The narrator shows the view of one character. Use of pronouns—He, she, it.
• Fourth Person: Use of pronouns such as ‘we’, as a collective group.
• Tone: It refers to the ‘feel’ of a piece of writing. The tone could be serious, comical, formal, informal, sarcastic, etc.