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:
“Plato—who may have understood better what forms the mind of man than do some of our contemporaries who want their children exposed only to “real” people and everyday events—knew what intellectual experience made for true humanity. He suggested that the future citizens of his ideal republic begin their literary education with the telling of myths, rather than with mere facts or so-called rational teachings.”
—Bruno Bettelheim (20th century)
“The element running through entire nature, which we popularly call Fate, is known to us as limitation. Whatever limits us, we call Fate.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)