• Characters
• Setting
• Plot
• Theme -- Atmosphere
• Conflict
• Point of View

Characters

• Protagonist - main character (the knight in shining armor who kills -- overcomes -- the dragon) who (typically) changes
• Antagonist - character who (typically) changes protagonist
• Major / Minor characters - important characters who contribute to the narration
• Stock characters - characters put into narratives to advance the plot but do not contribute in any significant way

Setting

• Time of the narrative
• Place of the narrative
• In certain narratives, setting makes little or no difference.
• In other narratives, setting contributes to most narratives - qualities - to a lesser or greater degree.

Plot

• Series of related events - usually follows a cause and effect manner.



• 1 Rising action
• 2 Climax - turning point in narrative - Epiphany
• 3 Resolution (Denouement)

Theme

• Purpose of the narrative:


• To entertain?
• To teach?
• To ??

Conflict

• Characters and Conflict form the heart of narrative. You cannot have a narrative without either one. Conflict is what drives a narrative - two opposing forces.

Point of View

• Who tells the narrative?


• First Person - I (usually engaged in story)
• Third Person - He, She, It (not taking part in story)

Other Elements:

• Irony - opposite of what you expect; deception
• Simile - comparison using like-ness
• Metaphor - comparison using un-like-ness
• Symbol - something (usually image) stands for something else (usually untouchable)