Elements of Literature Lesson: Everything You Need to Know

Lesson Overview

• Setting – The World of the Story
• Characters – Who's in the Story?
• Plot – What Happens in the Story
• Conflict – The Driving Problem
• Theme – The Big Message
• Point of View – Who is Telling the Story?

Have you ever wondered what makes a story so exciting or meaningful? Every great story is built from basic building blocks called elements of literature​. These elements – like plot, characters, setting, conflict, and theme – work together to create the tales we love. 

In this lesson, we'll explore each element to help you understand why each element matters and how to spot them in any story!

Setting – The World of the Story

The setting of a story is the time and place in which the story happens​. In other words, it's when and where the story takes place. Every story has a setting – it could be a specific city and year (e.g. London in 1940), a fantasy universe, or even a single room. The setting can also include details like the weather, time of day, or the social context.

Why It Matters

The setting is more than just a backdrop; it can affect how characters behave and how the story unfolds​. For example, a story set in a haunted house at midnight will likely feel spooky and suspenseful. 

Setting helps establish the mood (atmosphere) of the story and sometimes even reflects the story's themes. If a story's theme is about survival, a harsh desert setting can emphasize that theme by challenging the characters.

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Characters – Who's in the Story?

Characters are the people, animals, or beings who take part in the action of a story​. The story usually revolves around the main character, but there can be many supporting characters as well. Characters can be human or not – for example, in a fable, a talking fox or wise owl are characters too.

Key types of characters:

• Protagonist: The protagonist is the main character of the story – usually the "hero" or the character you root for. The plot often follows this character's experiences. Example: Harry Potter is the protagonist of his series.
• Antagonist: The antagonist is the character (or force) that opposes the protagonist, creating conflict. Often this is the "villain," but not always – any opposing force counts (it could even be nature or the character's own fear). Example: In Little Red Riding Hood, the Big Bad Wolf is an antagonist. In a survival story, a wild storm could act as an antagonist.
• Secondary/Supporting Characters: These are other characters who aren't the central focus but help move the story along (friends, sidekicks, mentors, etc.). They might not get as much attention, but they play roles in the plot and influence the main character.

Character Development: Characters can also be described by how they change or don't change in the story:

• Static Character: A character who does not change significantly through the story. Their personality and perspective stay the same from start to finish. Example: In a story, a side character who remains loyal and doesn't learn any new lesson might be static.
• Dynamic Character: A character who does change (learns a lesson or grows) by the end of the story. The change can be in personality, attitude, or understanding. Example: A shy character who overcomes fear and becomes brave is dynamic.

Most main characters (protagonists) in stories are dynamic – they learn or grow. Many antagonists are static (think of a villain who stays evil), though not always.

Why It Matters

Understanding characters is crucial because the conflicts and themes of a story are usually tied to them. Ask yourself why a character behaves a certain way. This can reveal the story's message. 

For instance, if a character changes from selfish to generous, the theme might be about the importance of kindness. Being able to identify the protagonist and antagonist also helps you predict conflicts – you know who's likely to clash with whom.

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Plot – What Happens in the Story

The plot is the sequence of events in a story – in other words, everything that happens, in order​. It usually follows a structure from the beginning of the story to the end. You can think of the plot as the "storyline" or the chain of events that answer the question "What happened, and what happened next?"

A simple way to remember plot: Beginning → Middle → End (with important stages in between). Most plots have five major parts​:

1. Exposition (Introduction): The beginning of the story where characters, setting, and background info are introduced. (You meet the characters and find out the setting and situation.)
2. Rising Action: The series of events that build up to the most exciting part. Here the main conflict is introduced and develops, and tension grows​. (Problems start happening or adventure begins.)
3. Climax: The most exciting part or turning point of the story. This is where the conflict reaches a peak. Often, it's a moment of decision, a big battle, or a critical discovery. (Everything changes here – it's the "wow!" moment.)
4. Falling Action: The events that happen after the climax as things start to wind down. The consequences of the climax unfold, and the tension decreases. (We see how things start to sort out.)
5. Resolution (Conclusion): The end of the story where the conflict is resolved and loose ends are tied up​. We find out how everything turns out for the characters. (Sometimes this is a happy ending, or sometimes it's bittersweet or even a cliffhanger, but the main issue is settled.)

Here's a handy plot structure chart summarizing these parts:

Why It Matters

Plot is the backbone of the story – without it, we just have characters sitting in a setting doing nothing! Understanding plot structure helps you follow the story and predict what might happen next. It also helps in identifying the conflict and the theme. 

For example, the climax often revolves around the main conflict, and the resolution often reveals the theme (lesson) of the story when you see how things ended.

Common Challenges

Some students mix up the terms, especially "rising action" vs. "falling action," or climax vs. resolution. Remember: rising = going up (toward the climax), falling = coming down (after the climax). The climax is like the mountain's peak, and the resolution is the final rest at the end. If you see a question asking for "the sequence of events involving characters and a central conflict," it's simply asking for the term plot​. 

Conflict – The Driving Problem

Every good story has a conflict – a problem or struggle that the characters face. Conflict is the opposition of forces that drives the plot​. It's what makes a story interesting, because without conflict, there's no challenge or tension.

Types of Conflict

There are four major types of conflict in literature​:

Internal vs. External:

• Internal conflict is character vs. self – the battle happens inside a character's heart or mind (emotions, doubts).
• External conflict covers character vs. character, nature, or society – forces outside the character create the problem.

Why It Matters

Conflict is the engine of the plot​. It's introduced early (in the rising action) and resolved by the end (resolution). The way a conflict is resolved often tells us about the theme – for instance, if a conflict is resolved through forgiveness, the theme might be about the power of forgiveness. 

Recognizing the type of conflict helps you understand the story's stakes. If it's character vs. nature, you expect a survival theme; if it's character vs. self, the story is more about personal growth.

Theme – The Big Message

Theme is the central message, lesson, or moral of a story​​. It's what the author wants you to take away or learn by the end. Unlike the plot (which is what happens), the theme is what it means.

Think of the theme as the answer to the question: "What did I learn or what idea was explored in this story?" It's often a life lesson or universal idea. For example, common themes for 6th-grade stories might be friendship, courage, honesty, perseverance, or "don't judge a book by its cover." A story can have more than one theme, but often one stands out as the main message.

Examples of Themes:

• "Treat others as you want to be treated." (Golden Rule)
• "Hard work pays off in the end."
• "Appearances can be deceiving." (Which is essentially "don't judge a book by its cover".)
• Friendship is more valuable than wealth.

Notice themes are usually not one word; instead, they're expressed as a statement or lesson. For instance, "friendship" by itself is a topic, but "Friendship can overcome any obstacle" is a theme statement.

Stated vs. Implied Theme: Sometimes a character states the theme outright (like the moral at the end of a fable: "Slow and steady wins the race."). But more often in literature, the theme is implied, meaning you have to infer it from what happens and how the story ends​.

You figure it out by thinking about what the protagonist learned or how the conflict was resolved. For example, if in a story the hero forgives the villain instead of taking revenge, an implied theme might be forgiveness is better than revenge.

Why It Matters 

The theme is why the author wrote the story – it's the point of it all. In a way, theme is the heart of a story, and all the other elements (plot, characters, setting) work to highlight the theme​. 

Recognizing themes helps you become a thoughtful reader who looks beyond just "what happened" to "what does it mean for us." It also helps in real life: themes are often lessons you can apply to your own experiences.

Critical Thinking – Finding the Theme: 

To find the theme, ask yourself: What did the main character learn? How did the conflict resolve, and what does that outcome teach? If the story made you think about a big idea (like friendship or honesty), that's a clue.

The theme will be more general, something that could apply to other stories as well. For example, if a story is about a brave dog saving someone, the theme might be "courage" or "loyalty", not "a dog saved a person" (that's a plot detail, not a theme).

Point of View – Who is Telling the Story?

Point of View (POV) is the perspective or vantage point from which a story is told​. It answers "Who is narrating the story?" and "Through whose eyes do we see events?"

The three main points of view are:

Moreover, there are different kinds of third person:

• Third Person Omniscient: The narrator knows everything (thoughts and feelings of all characters). "Omniscient" means all-knowing.
• Third Person Limited: The narrator knows the thoughts/feelings of one character (usually the protagonist), but not everyone.
  

Why It Matters

POV affects how we experience the story. A first-person narrator can only tell us what they know, so we might get surprises if that character doesn't know everything. A third-person omniscient narrator can give a broader view of all events. 

Understanding POV helps you answer questions like "Who is narrating?" or "Do we trust this perspective?" It's also important for identifying the narrator in a story.

Critical Thinking

Recognizing POV can also help with theme and reliability. If it's first person, ask is this narrator reliable or could they be biased? If it's third person omniscient, you're likely getting a trustworthy full picture.

Also, consider why an author chose that POV – for instance, first person can make it more personal (you're in the character's shoes), while third person can show multiple sides of the story. 

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Literary Elements Test