PLOT

Elements of a Story

Plot Diagram/Map

• Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows the arrangement of events and actions that take place within a story.

• A plot diagram is an organizational tool, which is used to map the significant events in a story. By placing the most significant events from a story on the plot diagram, you can visualize the key features of the story.

Plot

Types of PlotsPlots can be told in:

Chronological order: Events happen in sequential order.

Flashback: episodes of the story have happened in the past and the character remembers them or retells the events.

In media res (in the middle of things) when the story starts in the middle of the action without an exposition

• The start of the story, the situation before the action starts• Introduction to the story•Helps the reader identify the mood and conditions existing at the beginning of the story.

Exposition

• The setting is identified. (Where? and When?)

• The main characters with their positions, circumstances and relationships to one another are established.

• The exciting force or initial conflict is introduced. Sometimes called the “Narrative HOOK” this begins the conflict that continues throughout the story.

Expositioncont.

The series of events, conflicts, and crises in the story that lead up to the climax, providing the progressive intensity, and complicate the conflict.

Rising Action

• The turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action

• A crucial event takes place and from this point forward, the protagonist moves toward his inevitable end. The event may be either an action or a mental decision that the protagonist makes.

Climax

• The events occurring from the time of the climax to the end of the story.

• The main character may encounter more conflicts in this part of the story, but the end is inevitable.

Falling Action

• The tying up of loose ends and all of the threads in the story.

• The conclusion.

• The hero character either emerges triumphant or is defeated at this point.

Resolution/Denouement

Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.

Conflict

External Conflict•Man vs Man•Man vs Nature•Man vs Society

Internal Conflict•Man vs Self

Types of Conflict

• A Character is a person or animal that takes part in the action of a literary work.

• Protagonist: the main character or the most important character in a story.

• Antagonist : the character that opposes the main character.

Character/Characterization

• Round Character: show many different traits –faults as well as virtues.

• Flat Character: shows only one trait

• Dynamic Character: develops and grows during the course of the story’s events

• Static Character: stay the same throughout the story

Character/Characterization

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