Which elements are typically included in a novel?

A novel is an invented prose narrative of significant length and complexity that imaginatively explores human experience. While novels can incorporate an almost infinite variety of elements, they typically include the following core components:1

• Plot: The sequence of events or the device that propels the narrative. While some novels rely on traditional structures involving conflict and resolution, others may use chance incidents, psychological states, or metaphysical frameworks to hold the story together.12
• Characters: The individuals who inhabit the narrative. In serious fiction, plots often center on the psychological development of these characters and their movement toward new states of self-awareness.12
• Setting: The environment or context in which the story takes place.1
• Narrative Method and Point of View: The vantage point from which the story is told. This can range from an omniscient third-person narrator to a limited or first-person perspective, which shapes how the reader perceives the reality of the narrative.13
• Scope or Dimension: The overall scale and thematic reach of the work.1