Narrative Elements of a Short Story When an author writes a story, many elements are needed to put it together. All the elements used to put the short story together contribute to the formation of the central or main theme or idea. Normally, the central theme is the most important element of the story. “The theme of a story is associated with an idea behind the story” (Clugston, 2010). It is the fundamental pattern that gives meaning to the story. Developing a story's theme requires input from characters, symbolism, point of view, plot, and tone. When you bring all the literary elements together, a story is created and a theme comes to life through the actions of its characters. In the short story “I Lived Here” by Jean Rhys, we will look at point of view and symbolism to understand what the theme is and how these elements affect the development of the story as a whole. understand and know what the central or main theme of the story is, namely a woman's journey to the afterlife. The theme is difficult to see at first, and is not fully understood until the end when the woman says "that was the first time I knew" (Clugston, 2010). “I Used to Live Here” is told from a limited omniscient point. of view. This is when “the thoughts and feelings of just one of the characters are narrated by the narrator” (Clugston, 2010). Using this point of view is essential to understanding the theme of the story. Not being able to know the personal details of the woman's thoughts and memories, the symbolism and the cohesion of the story and theme may not be possible. Using an alternative point of view, such as the omniscient, where every detail of each character is described...... middle of paper ...... there is often a connection between feeling cold or having shivers when spiritual activity is present. It could also mean death. Plain and simple, the woman is dead, and the dead are cold. It's just after that that "that's when she knew", the last line of the story, the most important of all. It’s what connects everything and gives meaning to the theme, the tone, the point of view and all the symbolism. If the reader had any doubts about the story, that's when they would know that the story was about a woman who died and was embarking on the journey to her next life or spiritual journey. The story was an easy read that led the reader on a path of discovery. It was a spiritual journey that flowed easily and was filled with symbolism. The literary elements used linked the theme and tone to make it stand out..