Literary Elements II

Setting

When and where the story takes place.

Exposition

Characters, major conflict, and setting are introduced and detailed.

Rising Action

Character experiences complications as they try to solve the major conflict, building suspense.

Climax

Action reaches a peak and the outcome of the conflict is decided.

Cliffhanger

Story ends at the climax.

Falling Action

Questions are answered, loose ends tied up; author works toward ending.

Resolution

The end.

Denouement

The falling action and the resolution combined.

Climatic Plot

Plot that follows the plot pyramid.

Episodic Plot

Plot is presented in a series of episodes instead of one continuous story.

Narration

The telling of the story.

Narrator

The person who tells a story.

Reliable Narrator

Often tells the truth.

Unreliable Narrator

Might lie.

POV

The perspective the story is being told.

1st Person POV

Person in the story tells it from his or her own perspective.

2nd Person POV

Author talks directly to reader as if its you who is taking action.

3rd Person POV

Someone outside the story tells it.

Limited Narrator

Only knows about the experiences and thoughts of one character.

Omniscient Narrator

Knows all about everyone and everything.

Suspense

The author keeps the reader guessing what will happen next.

Foreshadowing.

Author drops a hint about what may happen next.

Theme

The lesson or massage about life the author wishes to share with the reader.