ANALYZING PLOT

STRUCTURES

Intro to Literature

Mr. Suchecki

RISING ACTION

Builds up the story

Leads to the climax

Involves the protagonist making a

choice

Or protagonist performing an action

RISING ACTION

Rising Action in “A Rose for Emily”• What do you think is the rising

action?• The smell coming from her house• The townspeople finding Homer

Rising Action in “Killings”• Rising Action?

• When Matt comes up to Richard and gets in his car

RISING ACTION

• Rising Action in “Bartleby”• When the lawyer moves

• In “The Lady With A Pet Dog”• Start dating at the hotel• When he visits her at the

theater

CONFLICTTypes of Conflict:

• Individual vs. Self• Individual vs. Nature• Individual vs. Others• Individual vs. Society• Individual vs. Technology

Need to find specific conflict in

the narrative

CONFLICT

Two types of conflict with the

Protagonist

External – Places protagonist against

self, others, etc.

Internal – Moral or psychological issue

resolved by protagonist

CONFLICT IN LIT

Type of Conflict • Individual vs. Self• Internal

What is the specific conflict?• Emily’s need for love forces her

to kill

CONFLICT IN LIT

Conflict in “Killings”

Matt’s struggle can be characterized as;• Individual vs. Other• External

Specific Conflict;• Matt is looking for closure for Frank

RESOLUTION

Culminates Central Conflict

Usually near end of the story

Involves Protagonist making a

change

RESOLUTION

Resolution in Tarzan

Central Conflict between Tarzan

and Terkoz

Resolution comes when Tarzan

kills Terkoz

RESOLUTION

Resolution in Frank McCourt’s

Angela’s Ashes

Frank gets to America

Deals with Frank moving around

RESOLUTION

Resolution in “Killings”

Deals with Protagonist Matt

Resolution comes when Matt kills

Richard

PLOT

One of three Plot Structures

Linear/Chronological

In Medias Res (from the middle)

Flash Back

FLASH BACK

Common plot structure in

Literature

Jumps back to previous events

throughout the novel

PLOT STRUCTUTRE

“A Rose for Emily”

What structure is it?

Why is it a Flash Back?

Why Not In Medias Res?

CITATION

Falashad, Close Quarters, September 5, 2008,

Creative Commons

Robertnelson, Handgun, March 29, 2007, Creative

Commons