A literary element is an element found in whole works of literature.
Literary elements are not "used" by all authors; but instead, they exist inherently in forms of literature and are derived by the readers of a work in question. Theme, characterization (direct and non-direct), conflict, Setting (fiction), protagonist, antagonist, rising action, falling action, resolution, climax, and point of view are among the many literary elements that exist. They can be about the setting, plot, or even the characters. An example of this is foreshadowing. Some examples of this can include: Motifs, Symbols, Conflicts, and Allusions.
A key way to remember the major literary elements and figures of speech is the acronym SHAMPOOPSI. This stands for: Simile, Hyperbole, Alliteration, Metaphor, Personification, Metonymy, Personification, Apostrophe (figure of speech), and Synecdoche.
Famous quotes containing the words literary and/or element:
“There is a difference between dramatizing your sensibility and your personality. The literary works which we think of as classics did the former. Much modern writing does the latter, and so has an affinity with, say, night-club acts in all their shoddy immediacy.”
—Paul Horgan (b. 1904)
“Only the rare expands our minds, only as we shudder in the face of a new force do our feelings increase. Therefore the extraordinary is always the measure of all greatness. And the creative element always remains the value superior to all others and the mind superior to our minds.”
—Stefan Zweig (18811942)