I remember in middle school, the class would always say "Theme is the universal idea or the heart of the story." It's a lesson on life and mankind.

Motifs can also act as symbols too. It can be a place, object, sound, statement, anything that repeats itself.

I'm unsure about this meaning but it may suggest that the meaning stays the same throughout many abstract ideas.

Imagery can recall the object in detail and set the mood for the text. I sometimes, find it difficult to make a connection on imagery. But I will pay attention to some key words that evoke senses.

Authors use rhetorical devices to develop meaning in their story. The reader will discover the author's overall purpose.

Tone is all about the author's attitude on the story. Mood is about our feelings upon the story.

Connotation is the interpretation of a symbol or word. It could represent something as well.

Denotation is a flat description of the object.

This is an example of an unreliable narrator.

Midnight's Children notes the importance of the setting for the narrator's birth.

An external feature shows the character's own thoughts and emotions.

I would think how the character's overall personality can be related to everyday life.

"Flat" characters only serve one minor purpose. They are much like static characters.

Minor characters can give a different perspective on the main character.

These are called Dynamic characters. They often grow and change a lot throughout the story.