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In the previous section, we reviewed the five main literary elements—point of view, characterization, plot and conflict, setting, and symbol. Now we will look to see how all of these elements can work together as building blocks to support the analysis of the overall meaning of a piece of literature.

Make Observations

We’re investigating the building blocks of a work:

Identify Patterns

Some things to look for among your observations are:

You will not see all of these things in every part of a literary work, but you should keep them in mind as you read.

Draw Conclusions

What is a theme and how did the author develop it?