Elements of Story

Great Literature: Not true, but truth; a tapestry of interrelated elements; "language charged
with meaning to the utmost possible degree" (Ezra Pound)

PLOT

     What exactly happens in the story? Does it have the traditional structure of exposition, conflict
     (rising action, climax, falling action), denouement? Is there revelation, resolution, or both?
     How does what happens define the characters?
     Does what happens fulfill your expectations? Is the ending satisfying?

SETTING

     What is the time (era) of the story?
     Does the setting make a difference, or could this story take place anytime, anywhere? How might
     a different setting affect the story?

CHARACTERS

     What characters are multidimensional/dynamic? What characters are flat/static? Why?
     How is their character revealed (dialogue, thoughts, dress, setting, action, editorial comment,
     etc.)?
     What is their motivation?
     What emotions do they create in you?
 

POINT OF VIEW

     Who tells the story?
     What about the narrator makes a difference in the story (participant/nonparticipant, gender,
     class, character, limitations, trustworthiness, etc.)?
     What about the author makes a difference in the story (influence of author's own experiences)?

SYMBOLISM

     What are the symbolic elements?
     How and why are they used?

THEME

     What is the significance of the title?
     What repetitions of words or details do you find?
     What does the story say about life? How loudly? How well?

Flannery O'Connor
"Some people have the notion that you can read the story and then climb out of it into the
meaning, but for the fiction writer himself the whole story is the meaning."
"A story is a way to say something that can't be said any other way." 
STYLE/VOICE

     What type of language/sentence structure is used by the narrator?
     How does it impact the story?

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