The storyteller uses literary elements and literary devices to guide and shape the story. Literary elements are core aspects such as plot, setting, characters, and theme. Whereas literary devices are optional techniques that give zing to the story. They include symbolism, metaphor, imagery, tone, irony, and many more.
Literary Elements
The 7 key elements all stories need are plot, narrator, point of view, characters, conflict, setting, and theme.
Let’s look at two of these – conflict and theme – in more detail.
Conflict
The conflict in a story is the struggle of the main character. It could be a physical fight between the main character and another character. But will most usually be a more subtle form of conflict. The conflict could be a disagreement or a difference of viewpoint between characters or it could be an internal conflict where the main character is confused about a force of nature, social structure, or themself. Whatever the conflicts are they drive the story giving the story purpose.
Theme
The theme is the central idea or message about life or human nature that the literary work explores (some stories explore more than one theme). Some common themes include love, ambition, courage, appearance vs. reality, and coming of age.
Literary Devices
Storytellers often prefer to give hints and guide the reader into deep thought rather than stating the meaning of each part of the story blankly. To do this, the storyteller uses devices. Some common literary devices are
Symbolism - Use of objects, characters, images, or facts that have a deeper symbolic meaning beyond the literal.
Metaphor/Simile - Figurative language comparing two things in an interesting way.
Imagery - Vivid descriptive details that create images in the reader's mind.
Tone - The attitude or emotional coloring the author takes towards the subject.
Irony - When the intended meaning is very different than the literal meaning.
Foreshadowing - Hints or clues that suggest events that will happen later.
Analyzing how and why the author employs these literary devices can reveal deeper meanings.