Unsure what holds a book together? The elements of a novel are plot, character, setting, point of view, theme and voice. Know these six and you can read, or draft, with a clear map.
This guide is part of the wider literature guide, which maps the field of fiction, poetry and drama.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Core elements of fiction named by Editor World | 6 elements |
| Key elements in an introductory creative writing lesson | 6 elements |
| Parts of Freytag’s Pyramid | 5 parts |
| Era when Gustav Freytag lived | 1800s |
These figures come from Editor World and a creative writing lesson. Teachers count the elements differently and pages get updated, so check the source before you rely on them.
What are the elements of a novel?
The elements of a novel are the components that combine to make the story. Most teachers and editors use the language of fiction in general, and it applies directly to novels. Editor World calls them building blocks and names six core elements, adding that conflict, style and tone fold into those six.
Here is the short version of each, in the words of that guide:
- Plot: the sequence of events.
- Character: the people the story is about.
- Setting: where and when it happens.
- Point of view: the position the story is told from.
- Theme: the underlying idea.
- Voice: the personality of the prose.
Other lists are shorter or longer. An open narrative journalism textbook says general consensus outlines five essential elements: theme, character, setting, plot and point of view. The creative writing lesson lists six by adding conflict as its own item.
A Colorado Mesa University page instead names style and language alongside plot, character, setting, point of view and theme. The count matters less than the idea that a novel is never just one thing.
Plot: the sequence of events
Editor World defines plot as the sequence of events in a story, arranged to create meaning and momentum, and says it is the cause-and-effect chain that links them. One event triggers the next and raises the stakes for the one after it. That chain is what keeps you turning pages.
The classic way to describe that chain is Freytag’s Pyramid. Gustav Freytag, a German playwright who lived during the 1800s, identified the structure, and the creative writing lesson says it has five parts:
- Exposition: an introduction to the characters, time and the problem.
- Rising action: the events the main character encounters, each making the problem more complex.
- Climax: the turning point in the story.
- Falling action: the events that unfold after the climax.
- Denouement: also called the resolution, which gives closure.
Not every novel follows this shape. The Colorado Mesa page notes that many stories are not chronological, and that there is often simultaneous action, no climax or no resolution. When that happens, ask what the structure itself is doing for the story.
Character: who the story happens to
Editor World describes character as the people a story is about, and the place where most readers form their deepest attachment. You may forget a twist, but you tend to remember how a character made you feel.
A few terms help you talk about characters precisely:
- Protagonist: the main character, the one the story revolves around (Pressbooks narrative journalism text).
- Antagonist: the character who often creates the most strife and struggle for the protagonist, per the same text.
- Flat and round: E. M. Forster, an English novelist, identified that characters are either flat or round, according to the creative writing lesson.
- Static and dynamic: a static character stays the same throughout the story, while a developing, or dynamic, character changes.
In that lesson, flat characters do not play important roles, while round characters are complex, dimensional and well-developed. Neither type is wrong; a story simply needs the right mix.
When you read, follow the advice on the Colorado Mesa page and look closely at what characters say and how they say it. Those small choices show you who a person really is.
Setting and point of view: where and who
The creative writing lesson says setting is where and when the story takes place. It includes the characters’ immediate surroundings, the time of day, the weather, the season, the historical period and the geographical location.
Setting can be more than a backdrop. The same lesson says it can be a main force the characters meet, such as a tornado or flood, or play a minor role such as setting the mood. The Colorado Mesa page adds that setting reflects character and embodies theme.
Next comes point of view, which Editor World calls one of the most consequential choices a writer makes. It controls what you can see, what you know and when you know it. Your main options are:
- First person: you are inside one character’s head, told with “I”.
- Third person limited: the story stays close to one character’s perspective, sharing only what that character knows.
- Third person omniscient: the narration moves freely among characters and can step back to show the whole picture.
Be careful with narrators who say “I”. The Colorado Mesa page points out that a first-person narrator is not always trustworthy or reliable.
Theme and voice: meaning and sound
Editor World says theme is the underlying idea a story explores, the larger meaning beneath the events on the surface. A plot about a woman returning home for a funeral might really be about grief. The plot is what happens; the theme is what it is about.
Do not hunt for a single correct answer. The Colorado Mesa page reminds readers that there are always multiple themes, which often reinforce and even contradict each other.
The last element is voice, the personality of the prose. Editor World says style and tone live inside voice, which is why shorter lists often leave voice out as a separate item. Voice is what lets you recognise an author from a single paragraph.
How do the elements of a novel work together?
No element works alone, according to Editor World. Plot gives character something to do, point of view controls what you know, setting shapes what is possible and theme gives the events meaning. The Colorado Mesa page makes the same point: the elements are always acting simultaneously in a story.
That is useful when a book does not work for you. Try this quick diagnostic on a novel you are reading or drafting:
- Who is the story about, and what do they want?
- What events push them forward, and where is the turning point?
- Where and when does it happen, and how does that shape the action?
- Who is telling it, and what are you not being told?
- What larger idea keeps surfacing, and how does the voice carry it?
Seeing how writers weigh these elements differently is a good next step, and our explainer on what is literary fiction is a natural place to start. Fiction is only one branch of literature, so you may also want to read about the types of poetry next.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main elements of a novel?
Show answer
Editor World names six core elements: plot, character, setting, point of view, theme and voice. Some textbooks count fewer or more, but the same ideas appear in every list.
Is conflict an element of a novel?
Show answer
It depends on the list. The creative writing lesson counts conflict as its own element, while Editor World says conflict lives inside plot and character.
Do all novels follow Freytag’s Pyramid?
Show answer
No. The Colorado Mesa page says not all stories follow that pattern, and some have no climax or no resolution.
What is the difference between a flat and a round character?
Show answer
According to the creative writing lesson, flat characters do not play important roles, while round characters are complex, dimensional and well-developed. Round characters often lead the story and often change.
