Stories.

1. The beauty of a well-told story is that it can function on many levels: a story told to a child probably has a surface plot and the ability to entertain - this is why children like being told stories; at the same time, however, a well-crafted story typically has a secondary meaning that lies below the surface. Thus, a story can entertain, while at the same time communicating values or provoking thought.

2. Again, a well-told story has the ability to function on multiple levels. As children grow up into young adults, they usually become better equipped to understand the deeper and more complicated levels within a story. They are also able to understand and appreciate stories that are deeper and more complex. A well-crafted book can provoke deeper thought and provide insight into the why's and how's of the world.

3. Throughout history, books have served as an outlet for political and social concerns, as well as a tool for crafting a national identity. In the late 18th century, the German intellectual Johann Herder coined the term volksgeist, meaning "the genius of the people". Herder and other Europeans of the 18th and 19th centuries believed that the collective literature of a nation's common people is what ultimately determined that nation's spirit and identity. Through written works, writers are able to represent the concerns, beliefs, values, and attitude of the nation as a whole.

4. A well-written story should have, first of all, well-developed and well-conceptualized characters. The characters should exhibit versimilitude and should function similarly to a real person put in their situation might; characters should also have emotional depth and complexity (the degree of which depends on the length of the story). If characters are unbelievable or lacking in complexity, the reason why should be evident and understandable.

A high-caliber story should also have a clever and complex plot (again, the degree of which depends on the length of the story). The events at the center of the action should be interesting should propel the plot forward. If plot events are resolved too soon, the story will have nowhere to go; on the other hand, if the plot events are not resolved or drag on too long, readers will lose interest, the story will be ultimately unsatisfying, and the theme will probably be unclear.

A story of literary merit should also have a vividly depicted setting. If the reader cannot envision the place in which the plot events are occuring, he or she will likely feel alienated and estranged. It's important to create a world that is plausible - one that draws the reader in. The world in which the story is set should be rich and pictorial.

Finally, and arguably most importantly, a good story should effectively communicate an original theme. The story should have significance beyond the literal surface meaning that it communicates. Whether it provides insight, communicates values, conveys a social or political concern, the writing should establish something deeper than its literal plot.