Short Story Literary Elements

narrator uses "i" and "me"

atmosphere or feeling created by the author

method of labeling people as a group

use of clues to suggest the story's outcome

narrator knows only what he observes with his senses

something that stands for something else

what the story is about

Author's choice of narrator

contrast between what appears to be and what really is

time and place in which the story takes place

making an assumption based on limited information

method used to develop personality of characters

a seemingly contradictory or absurd statement that may nonetheless suggest animportant truth

main idea or underlying meaning of the work

character about whom the story centers

narrator knows the characters' thoughts

character or force opposing the protagonist

struggle between opposing forces