Story Elements Setting, Point of View, and Literary Techniques
Stories happen somewhere and somewhen - that's the setting, which includes both time and place. A story might take place in modern-day New York City, a medieval fantasy kingdom, or aboard a spaceship in the distant future. Setting creates atmosphere and affects what characters can do.
Who's telling the story matters too! Point of view comes in different types first-person narrative ("I walked into the room"), third-person omniscient (knows all characters' thoughts), or third-person limited (follows just one character's perspective). The viewpoint completely changes how information is shared with you, the reader.
Great stories use special techniques to create deeper meaning. Theme is the central message or lesson (like "love conquers all"). Foreshadowing drops hints about what's coming later. Irony occurs when expectations are flipped - like verbal irony (sarcasm), dramatic irony (when readers know something characters don't), or situational irony (when the opposite of what's expected happens).
Try this! Next time you read a story or watch a movie, try to identify the plot stages, the types of conflicts, and which point of view is being used. This makes you an active reader rather than a passive one!