The house was covered with the thick snow as Joe continued walking toward the chimney smoke. He realize how quiet his surroundings were, and the example which story element has the most influence over the other story elements would be setting plot characters or theme.
In this example, the story element with the most influence over the other story elements would be the setting. The fact that the house is covered with thick snow and Joe is walking towards the chimney smoke sets the tone and atmosphere of the story. It creates a sense of isolation and sets up the anticipation of what Joe might find inside the house. The elements of plot, characters, and theme are all influenced by this setting and its impact on the overall story.
