THE FIVE LITERARY ELEMENTS
In writing a literary piece, there are five key elements to consider in order to create a logical and meaningful inscription.
- Character- an individual that gives life to the composition. A character can be presented in a human form, an animal, or even a thing, depending on the author’s imagination.
Two types of character:
a. Protagonist- a prominent figure; the main character.
b. Antagonist- a character that interferes with the protagonist; the enemy.
- Setting- the time frame and location in which the action takes place.
Components of setting:
a. Place- the geographical location as to where the action takes place.
b. Time- a period of a day, week, month, year or so, as to when the action takes place.
c. Weather condition- the state of the atmosphere that regards heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.
d. Mood- the emotional condition of the characters that set the standard tone towards the readers.
- Plot- the arrangement of a series of events.
Five series of plot:
a. Introduction (Exposition) – the beginning of the story. This part unveils the characters, background, and setting.
b. Rising Action- the segment where disagreements and problems appear. Conflicts are generally connected to any form of struggle as it allows context movement.
Two types of conflict:
i. Internal- conflict within one’s self.
• Character vs. Self- a crisis within one’s own identity or inner man.
ii. External- conflict within the outside force.
• Character vs. Character- a clash against other characters (the launch of the protagonist’s purpose).
• Character vs. Nature- a dispute against the natural phenomenon, weather, environment, or another creature.
• Character vs. Society- the dissension against the norm, ideas, or customs of others.
c. Climax- the peak of the story. This part aims to instill a series of questions in the readers.
d. Falling Action- the part where the complication begins to get a result.
e. Resolution (Conclusion) – the outcome or endpoint of the story.
- Point of View- the perspective from which the story is presented.
Variations of Point of View:
a. First Person- the story told by a character who communicates directly with another character. The intention is to let its readers see and experience through a character’s eyes, mind, and feelings.
b. Second Person- the story told by the narrator who communicates directly to its readers. This aims to give an illusion that the readers are also part of the story.
c. Third Person- the story told by the narrator who sees all the actions, he may be another character in the story.
- Theme- is the most important among the five elements as it gives purpose to the literary piece. This indicates the moral or central message of the story but may vary depending on the reader’s understanding and knowledge.
