Elements of Literature
plot - Answer the series of events in a story
Characters - Answer The people or animals in the story that the events (plot) happen to.
major character - Answer The most important character; the action of the plot and the
main conflict revolve around him or her.
minor characters - Answer Less important characters who interact with the main
character and with one another.
protagonist - Answer The main character in a story. (Usually the "good guy")
antagonist - Answer A character or force in conflict with the main character. (The "bad
guy")
conflict - Answer a major struggle or problem a character has in a story.
person versus person conflict - Answer A character has a problem with one or more of
the other characters
person versus society conflict - Answer The character has a problem with the laws or
beliefs of a group.
person versus nature conflict - Answer The character has a problem with a force of
nature such as a hurricane or natural disaster.
person versus self conflict - Answer The character has a problem with deciding what to
do or think. An internal conflict
Setting - Answer where and when a story takes place
Mood - Answer The feeling a story gives the reader or how the reader feels while
reading the story. For example, happiness, sadness, peacefulness etc.
tone - Answer Attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character. It is
how the author feels about the subject.
theme - Answer The author's message or a lesson from the story
point of view - Answer the perspective from which a story is told (Who is telling the
story?)
first person point of view - Answer a character in the story is actually telling the story
himself/herself. You will see personal pronouns like "I,","me," "we."
plot - Answer the series of events in a story
Characters - Answer The people or animals in the story that the events (plot) happen to.
major character - Answer The most important character; the action of the plot and the
main conflict revolve around him or her.
minor characters - Answer Less important characters who interact with the main
character and with one another.
protagonist - Answer The main character in a story. (Usually the "good guy")
antagonist - Answer A character or force in conflict with the main character. (The "bad
guy")
conflict - Answer a major struggle or problem a character has in a story.
person versus person conflict - Answer A character has a problem with one or more of
the other characters
person versus society conflict - Answer The character has a problem with the laws or
beliefs of a group.
person versus nature conflict - Answer The character has a problem with a force of
nature such as a hurricane or natural disaster.
person versus self conflict - Answer The character has a problem with deciding what to
do or think. An internal conflict
Setting - Answer where and when a story takes place
Mood - Answer The feeling a story gives the reader or how the reader feels while
reading the story. For example, happiness, sadness, peacefulness etc.
tone - Answer Attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character. It is
how the author feels about the subject.
theme - Answer The author's message or a lesson from the story
point of view - Answer the perspective from which a story is told (Who is telling the
story?)
first person point of view - Answer a character in the story is actually telling the story
himself/herself. You will see personal pronouns like "I,","me," "we."
