"The house was covered with a thick snow. As Joe continued walking toward the chimney smoke, he realized how quiet his surroundings were."

In the example, which story element has the most influence over the other story elements?
(1 point)
• Characters
• Setting
• Plot
• Theme

In this example, the setting has the most influence over the other story elements. The thick snow and quiet surroundings set the mood and atmosphere for the story, influencing the actions of the characters and potentially shaping the plot and overall theme.