* Character Archetypes: Tony, Maria, Bernardo, and Anita represent different character archetypes.
* Conflict: The conflict between the Sharks and the Jets is central to the story.
* Dancing: The dancing is an important part of the story and is used to express emotions and tell the story.
* Fate: The role of fate is a major theme in the story.
* Foreshadowing: There are many examples of foreshadowing throughout the story.
* Imagery: The imagery in the story is vivid and descriptive, helping to create a strong atmosphere.
* Irony: There is a great deal of irony in the story, such as the fact that Tony and Maria are in love but cannot be together because of the conflict between their gangs.
* Metaphor: The story is full of metaphors, such as the use of the dance as a metaphor for life.
* Narrator: The story is told from a third-person perspective.
* Plot: The plot is straightforward and easy to follow.
* Setting: The setting is important to the story, as the conflict between the Sharks and the Jets is largely due to the fact that the Sharks are Puerto Ricans and the Jets are white Americans.
* Symbolism: The dancing in the story is used as a symbol of love and passion, while the guns are used as a symbol of violence and death.
* Theme: The main theme of the story is the power of love to overcome prejudice and hatred.