This document defines key literary elements such as setting, character, plot, climax, resolution and more. It then provides a short story as an example to demonstrate these elements. The story is about a mouse that discovers a mousetrap in the house and warns other animals like a chicken, pig and cow about the danger, but they shrug off the mouse's concerns. That night, the sound of the mousetrap catching its prey is heard. The next day, the farmer kills the chicken to make soup for his sick wife and later butchers the pig to feed visitors caring for her.

16. The “where and
when” of a story. It is
the time and place
during which the story
takes place.

17. It refers to a
person, an object, an
animal, or imaginary
creature personified in
the story.

18. Also a main
character who
opposes the
protagonist in
some way.

19. The literary element
that describes the
structure of a story. It
shows arrangement of
events and actions
within a story.

21. Introduction;
characters, setting
and conflict
(problem) are
introduced.

22. Events that
occur as result
of central
conflict.

23. Highest
point of
interest or
suspense of a
story.

24. Tension eases;
events show the
results of how the
main character
begins to resolve
the conflict.

25. Loose
ends are tied
up; the
conflict is
solved.

26. A feeling of
excitement,
tension, and
curiosity the
reader
experiences.

27. Hint or clue
about what will
happen in the
story.

28. Something that
happened in the
past that interrupts
the normal
sequence of the
events.

29. Use of
specific
objects or
images to
represent

30. Making a thing,
idea, or animal do
something only
humans do.

31. Conclusion that
the reader does not
expect to happen.

45. The mouse wondered. He was
devastated to discover it was a
mousetrap.
“What
food
might
this
contain?
”

46. “There is a mousetrap
in the house! There is
a mousetrap in the
house!”

47. The mouse went to the chicken
and told her.
“There is a mousetrap
in the house! There is
a mousetrap in the
house!”
“Mr. Mouse, I can tell this
is a grave concern to you,
but it is of no consequence
to me. I cannot be bothered
by it.”
The chicken clucked and
scratched, raised her head
and said,

48. The mouse turned to the pig and
told him.
“There is a mousetrap
in the house! There is
a mousetrap in the
house!”
“I am so very sorry, Mr.
Mouse, but there is
nothing I can do about it
but pray. Be assured you
are in my prayers.”
The pig sympathized
said,

49. The mouse turned to the cow and
said.
“There is a mousetrap
in the house! There is
a mousetrap in the
house!”
“Wow, Mr. Mouse.
I’m sorry for you, but
it’s no skin off my
nose.”
The cow
said,

51. That very night a sound
was heard throughout
the house – like the
sound of a mousetrap
catching its prey.

52. The farmer’s wife rushed to see what was
caught.

55. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh
chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to
the farmyard for the soup’s main ingredient.

56. But his wife’s sickness continued, so friends and
neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.

57. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.
The farmer’s wife did not get well;