Elements of a Narrative

A narrative is any story --
fiction or nonfiction -- expressed in a text.

• Character - imaginary person represented in a narrative fiction
  

  protagonist, antagonist, hero/heroine are the people that move the plot along and the reason that many readers stay with a story

• Plot - basic situation of a narrative
  

  these are the events in the story from the beginning until the end

• Setting - environment and context in which a story is placed
  

  this is where a story takes place in time and location

• Conflict - opposition between characters or forces in a story
  

  this important part of a story often prevents the characters from achieving their goals but allows them to grow from the experiences and then continue onward in their journey

• Theme - central idea or insight about life
  

  the central idea of the narrative, which is often abstract (e.g. greed, love, coming of age)

  Mood - the atmosphere and feeling of a text
  
  Tone - an author's attitude toward the subject or characters