2.2 Literary elements
- PLOT:
- the storyline, the pattern of events in a story. There may be multiple plots in a book.
- SETTING:
- where and when the story takes place. Settings can change in different parts of the story.
- CHARACTER:
- the people, animals, etc. in stories.
- POINT OF VIEW:
- a story is often told from the main character’s point of view, although multiple viewpoints can be presented, particularly in modern fiction.
- THEME:
- the central idea of a story – e.g. dealing with loneliness, friendship or fear, for example. The theme may be implicit or stated overtly.
- STYLE:
- the particular way of writing that the author employs, such as the use of symbolism, figurative and/or colloquial language. This element will be discussed in detail in Part 5.
Often the publisher’s blurb will give information about the plot and setting of a book, and may even indicate its theme. However there is usually only an outline of the plot, and the way the story ends will most likely not be given.This is not enough information for an assignment, where a synopsis of the whole story is needed, and where any changes in setting should be written about. Similarly, the publisher’s idea of the central theme may be a variance with the ideas of different readers, and individual interpretations are to be encouraged, provided they can be supported by the text itself. (See Part 3 and the discussion on reader response theory.)