Focus Question

How does knowing about literary elements impact understanding a story?

I think it helps to think they contribute greatly to understanding a story. With perspective, you can tell alot about the story depending on the viewpoint, because you are able to construct meaning about the characters and the storyline easier. Reading a story about an ant would be completely different if it was told from the ant's perspective as opposed to a person's perspective. It affects the other literary elements as well.

Time can have also a huge effect on the understanding of a story. A story that flashes back and forth adds depth and gives insight on characters, which makes it easier to understand the story from their viewpoint. The idea that time can be psychological or chronological helps the reader understand other literary elements, like perspective.

Plot is of course important, because the action of the story is what moves it along. You don't want to be reading a book and then think, "Why am I reading this? What is the point of the story?" Things like mood and symbols help the reader understand the author's viewpoint on certain subjects, and help them tie the story together without actually being told the meaning. I think these are very important to evaluate after reading  a text, because then you understand the motive in having those things in the story in the first place. Without these, the story has no depth and can be rather shallow. Understanding what these are and what they mean to the reader helps them put the story into context and learn something from it in the end.