A literary element is an element found in whole works of literature

Literature

Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...

.

Literary elements are not "used" by authors; rather, they exist inherently in forms of literature and are derived by the readers of a work in question. Theme

Theme (literature)

A theme is a broad, message, or moral of a story. The message may be about life, society, or human nature. Themes often explore timeless and universal ideas and are almost always implied rather than stated explicitly. Along with plot, character,...

, characterization, conflict

Conflict (narrative)

In literature, Conflict is the inherent incompatibility between the objectives of two or more characters or forces. By its nature, conflict is unstable. One side must always win out in the end...

, setting

Setting (fiction)

In fiction, setting includes the time, location, and everything in which a story takes place, and initiates the main backdrop and mood for a story. Setting has been referred to as story world or milieu to include a context beyond the immediate surroundings of the story. Elements of setting may...

, protagonist

Protagonist

A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...

, antagonist

Antagonist

An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...

, and point of view

Point of view (literature)

The narrative mode is the set of methods the author of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical story uses to convey the plot to the audience. Narration, the process of presenting the narrative, occurs because of the narrative mode...

 are among the many literary elements that exist. They can be about the setting, plot, or even the characters. An example of this is foreshadowing.

Literary elements are most frequently used to help discussion on a work or better understand a work of literature. For instance, the New York State English/Language Arts Regents Exam requires that students utilize and discuss literary elements relating to specific works in each of the two essays, much like many other high school exams statewide.