What Do You Know About Plot and Setting?

Plot

Time and Sequence

Flashback

Foreshadowing

Suspense

Conflict

Feature Menu

Setting

Mood

Your Turn

Plot is “what happens” in a story—the sequence of related events that makes a story hang together.

Plot

A typical plot has several parts.

Plot

Basic Situation

Conflict

Climax

Resolution

event

event

event

Complications

Plot

The first part of a story is the basic situation, or exposition.

In this part of a story, the writer introduces one or more characters and shows the characters’ circumstances as the story begins.

Plot

Conflict means struggle. In a story, conflict arises when a character wants something very much and must struggle to get it.

Quick CheckWhat is the basic situation?

What conflict arises?

Kevin grinned as the music faded. “We sound great,” he said. “We’re going to win first place for sure!”

Toby didn’t return the smile. He took off his guitar, looking unhappy.

“What’s wrong?” Kevin asked.

“I’m quitting the band,” Toby said quietly.

“You can’t quit! You’re our lead guitarist! The talent show is only a week away.”

Toby shrugged. “I’m done fooling around with music. I’ve decided to get a job.”

Plot

Next, a series of complications arises.

Complications are events that make a character’s situation more difficult.

Plot

In a story, complications

• increase conflict and

• heighten the suspense.

Plot

Plot

Quick CheckKevin rang the doorbell, determined to talk some sense into his friend.

When Toby’s dad answered the door, he said Toby wasn’t home.

Kevin looked back at Mr. Ames. “Toby quit the band,” he said. “He plays better than any of us. If you talked to him, do you think he’d change his mind?”

Mr. Ames shook his head. “I’m the one who told him to quit. Toby needs to learn responsibility. He needs to get a job.”

What complication arises in this passage?

• is the most exciting or suspenseful moment and

Next, the plot reaches a climax, or high point.

The climax

• decides the outcome of the conflict.

Plot

SAFE!

Plot

Kevin gripped his guitar. In a few minutes, the band would perform. He wasn’t as good as Toby, but he’d do his best.

He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around. “Toby!” There stood his friend, guitar in hand. Behind him, Mr. Ames gave Kevin a thumbs up.

There wasn’t time to say anything. The curtain rose, and the band started to play. The audience jumped to its feet, dancing and clapping. We sound good, Kevin thought, better than we could have without Toby. The song wasn’t perfect, but from the way the audience cheered, no one seemed to notice.

How is the conflict between Kevin and Toby resolved?

Toby returns to the band, with his father’s approval, and plays in the talent show. Kevin is glad to have Toby back.

Kevin gripped his guitar. In a few minutes, the band would perform. He wasn’t as good as Toby, but he’d do his best.

He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around. “Toby!” There stood his friend, guitar in hand. Behind him, Mr. Ames gave Kevin a thumbs-up.

There wasn’t time to say anything. The curtain rose, and the band started to play. The audience jumped to its feet, dancing and clapping. We sound good, Kevin thought, better than we could have without Toby. The song wasn’t perfect, but from the way the audience cheered, no one seemed to notice.

The last part of the plot is the resolution, or closing, of the story.

• The problems are resolved in some way.

• The story ends—sometimes happily, sometimes not.

“I’m working in my dad’s hardware store,” said Toby. “But he said we can practice in the basement after the store closes.”

“Great,” said Kevin. “We’ll be able to practice every night!”

“We’ll need it,” Toby said, “if we want to win next year.”

Plot

[End of Section]

Plot: Time and Sequence

Sequence is the order of events in a story.

• presents events in the order they occurred, from first to last and

• moves the plot forward in time.

Plot: Time and Sequence

In most stories, events are told in chronological order. This arrangement

[End of Section]

event event event event event

Plot: Flashback

A flashback moves the action back in time and tells what happened before the main events.

Flashbacks

• occur out of sequence,

• link something in the present with past events, and

• deepen our understanding of a character or situation.

Present

PastPast

The investigator looked just like his Aunt Mimi. She had the same piercing blue eyes.

Those eyes forced him to remember. Snapshots of that awful summer—the mysterious phone calls, the tense dinners—flashed into his mind.

Plot: Flashback

Present

PastPast

Those eyes forced him to remember. Snapshots of that awful summer—the mysterious phone calls, the tense dinners—flashed into his mind.

Which part of this passage is a flashback, out of the sequence of events?

Plot: Flashback

Quick Check

Ashley heard the ice cream truck coming. Its off-key melody brought back that magical summer before Jenna moved away.

There they were in Ashley’s room eating lemon ice and talking for hours. Ashley could tell Jenna anything.

Now that Jenna was gone, the neighborhood felt empty. Ashley watched the ice cream truck pass.

Lemon ice just wouldn’t taste the same. [End of Section]

Plot: Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing is the use of clues to hint at what is going to happen later in the plot.

Foreshadowing can make a story more exciting by increasing suspense.

Later PlotEvent

ClueClue

ClueClue

ClueClue

+

+

Plot: Foreshadowing

Without warning, the small plane seemed to fall fifty or sixty feet, as if something had reached up and pulled it toward the roadway below.

Every passenger’s jaw dropped, yet no one had anything to say.

[End of Section]

In the following passage, notice how the clues build to create suspense.

The clues foreshadow a later event: The plane may be forced to make an emergency landing.

Without warning, the small plane seemed to fall fifty or sixty feet, as if something had reached up and pulled it toward the roadway below.

Every passenger’s jaw dropped, yet no one had anything to say.

Plot: Suspense

Suspense is the feeling of uncertainty or anxiety we feel about what is going to happen later in the plot.

Suspense is created when writers

• develop interesting characters and conflicts,

• use foreshadowing to hint at future dangers and conflicts, and

• slow down, speed up, or interrupt the plot through flashback and flash-forward.

Plot: Suspense

How is suspense built in the following passage?

The writer uses foreshadowing to hint that Melissa and her mother may be trapped outside during a storm.

Melissa glanced up at the sky.

Off in the distance, a storm was building, tall and filled with flashes of lighting.

“Mom,” she whispered, “I think we’d better head back to the house.”

Her mother smiled, “Why?”

Melissa glanced up at the sky.

Off in the distance, a storm was building, tall and filled with flashes of lightning.

“Mom,” she whispered, “I think we’d better head back to the house.”

Her mother smiled, “Why?”

How does this passage create suspense?

Plot: Suspense

Quick Check

For several seconds, Ken stared at the running back. Somehow the kid had managed to avoid two or three linemen. Now he was plowing ahead, straight at Ken, his helmet down.

Terrified, Ken braced himself.

Many years ago he’d played a similar game with his dog. The dog would charge him, just like that running back, but he’d step aside at the last moment, letting the dog dart past.

[End of Section]

Plot: Conflict

A conflict is a struggle between opposing forces.

Plot: Conflict

• External conflict is a struggle between a character and an outside force.

There are two main kinds of conflict: external and internal.

• Internal conflict is a struggle within the character’s own heart or mind.

External:boy vs. wall

Internal:self vs. fear

Plot: Conflict

An internal conflict is an emotional struggle that takes place within a character’s heart or mind.

Rasheeda was thrilled—Jackson had asked her to the prom!

There was only one problem. She’d already told Travis she’d go with him.

Travis was a good friend; he wouldn’t mind. He knew Rasheeda had liked Jackson ever since third grade.

Still, she wondered: Would it be fair to Travis to break their date?

Rasheeda was thrilled—Jackson had asked her to the prom!

There was only one problem. She’d already told Travis she’d go with him.

Travis was a good friend; he wouldn’t mind. He knew Rasheeda had liked Jackson ever since third grade.

Still, she wondered: Would it be fair to Travis to break their date?

Plot: Conflict

An external conflict is a struggle between the main character and a person or outside force.

• two characters,

• a character and society, or

• a character and a force of nature.

External conflicts include struggles between

Plot: Conflict

Which version of the following event would you rather read?

You probably prefer B because it hints at conflict. Conflict keeps the plot moving. Without it, the story has nowhere to go.

Jake walked to the subway and caught the D train.

A.

The man in dark glasses was gaining on Jake. A mob was battling to board the train. He began to run. . . .

B.

Is this an external or internal conflict?

Plot: Conflict

Quick Check

Vijay knew his parents would never understand. He could hear them now: What did a boy of eighteen know about choosing a wife? He should trust their judgment.

Back home, they would say that only a foolish, worthless son would dare to make such an important decision by himself.

Vijay, however, was determined to make his own choice—no matter what his parents said. [End of Section]

Setting draws us into the world of a story. Details of setting tell us where and when events occur.

A story’s setting also may include information about social customs—about how the characters

• live,

• dress,

• eat, and

• behave.

Setting

In some stories, the setting can contribute to the conflict.

Setting

The flames in the back room were spreading. Lily ran outside, into the cool night air. An instant later, her relief disappeared. She patted her pockets. The letter! Where was it? Then she remembered. The crumpled pages—proof of her innocence—were in Bob’s desk, in the burning room!

Lily ran to the house and opened the door. Black smoke poured out.

[End of Section]

The flames in the back room were spreading. Lily ran outside into the cool night air. An instant later, her relief disappeared. She patted her pockets. The letter! Where was it? Then she remembered. The crumpled pages—proof of her innocence—were in Bob’s desk, in the burning room!

Lily ran to the house and opened the door. Black smoke poured out.

Setting can add to a story’s emotional effect—its mood.

foreboding, mysterious

relaxed, carefree

lonely, sad

Setting: Mood

What details reveal time and place?

What details create mood? How would you describe the mood?

Quick Check

Leaving the cool baggage terminal was like walking into a wall of fire. The blazing heat stopped Jake in his tracks. As the blur of cars, trucks, and pedestrians swept past, he shaded his eyes with his hand, blinking in the blinding sun.

It was only a few blocks to the Wan Chai district, but the thought of walking there loomed like the prospect of a long march through a jungle.

Setting: Mood

[End of Section]

Analyze Plot and Setting

Your Turn

Define plot, setting, and mood.

What opposing external forces might create conflict in a story about illegal immigrants crossing a border?

What mental or emotional forces might create another conflict?

The End