The literary composition is a ratio of parts of the work in a certain system and the sequence. At the same time the composition represents the harmonious, complete system including various ways and forms of the literary and art image and caused by contents of the work.
Subject elements of composition
A prolog is called an introductory part of the work. It or precedes a story line or the main motives of the work, or represents short statement of the events preceding described on pages of the book. The exposition in something is similar to a prolog, however, if a prolog has no special impact on development of a plot of the work, then the exposition directly enters the reader into the atmosphere of the narration. In it characteristic of time and the scene of action, the central characters and their relationship is given. The exposition can be as in the beginning (direct exposition), and in the middle of the work (the detained exposition).
At logically clear creation of composition the exposition is followed by a tie – an event which begins action and provokes development of the conflict. Sometimes the tie precedes an exposition (for example, in the novel by L.N. Tolstoy "Anna Karenina"). In detective novels which differ in so-called analytical creation of a plot the cause of events (i.e. a tie) usually opens to the reader after the investigation generated by it.
The tie is traditionally followed by the action development consisting of a number of episodes in which characters seek to resolve the conflict, but it escalates only. Gradually development of action approaches the highest point which carries the name the culmination. The culmination is called decisive collision of characters or a critical event in their destiny. After the culmination the action uncontrollably moves to an outcome. The outcome is completion of action or at least the conflict. As a rule, the outcome comes at the end of the work, but sometimes is published also at the beginning (for example, in the story by I.A. Bunin "Easy breath"). Often the work comes to the end with the epilog. It is a final part in which it is usually told about the events which followed after end of the main plot and about the further fate of characters. Epilogs in I.S. Turgenev, F.M. Dostoyevsky, L.N. Tolstoy's novels are that.
Lyrical digressions
Also at composition there can be extra subject elements, for example, lyrical digressions. In them the author himself appears at the reader, stating own judgments on various issues, not always directly related to action. Lyrical digressions in Eugene Onegin of A.S. Pushkin and in "Dead souls" of N.V. Gogol are of special interest. All listed elements of composition allow to give to the work art integrity, logicality and fascination.