Literary Elements - Combined

Four main elements of stories: Setting, Characters, Plot, and Theme.

Setting: The setting is where and when a story takes place. It includes things like the weather and the situation in which a character finds himself or herself. There may be one setting or many settings throughout a story. The setting affects what happens in a story.

When reading, ask yourself —

How does the setting affect how a character behaves or reacts to certain events?

Would things happen differently in a different setting?

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Characters: Characters are the people in a story. Depending on the story, characters could be animals or even imaginary objects or creatures. Stories tell or show the reader how characters act, think, and/or feel. Characters are who the story is about.

When reading, ask yourself —

Which characters are major characters, and which are minor?

What words best describe a character?

Why does a character do what he or she does?

How do characters behave and talk with other characters?

How do characters' actions affect what happens in the story?

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Plot: The plot of a story is made up of a sequence of events—it is what happens in a story. The events happen in a specific order. All stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end. They have a conflict and a resolution.

When reading, ask yourself —

How does one event lead to the next?

What is the major conflict, or problem, in the story?

How is the problem solved, or resolved?

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Theme: The theme of a story its message, lesson, or meaning. It is not the topic of a story. Instead, the theme is the deeper meaning that must usually be inferred, or figured out, by the reader.

When reading, ask yourself —

What idea is bigger than the story itself?

What can the reader learn from the story?

What message is the author trying to send to the reader?

REMEMBER: The four story elements of setting, characters, plot, and theme do not each stand alone in a story. There can be no plot without setting and characters. There can be no theme without plot. When reading, look for these four elements in the story and how they are connected.

Literary Elements - Combined

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