Plot

The plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story.

Reading Literature (11-12.3)

Analyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama.

Let’s Practice: Key Terms

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Section A: Plot Structure

The plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows the casual arrangements of events and actions within a story. The most basic and traditional form of the plot is pyramid-shaped. Gustav Freytag has described this structure. Freytag used the five-part design shown below to illustrate a story’s plot.

Plots can be told in chronological order, flashback, and media res (middle of the story)

Plot Components

Ø Exposition

o The start of the story, the situation before the action starts

Ø Rising Action

o The series of conflicts and crisis in the story that leads to the climax

Ø Climax

o The turning point, the most intense moment – either mentally or in action

Ø Falling Action

o All of the action which follows the climax

Ø Resolution

o The conclusion, tying together of all the threads

Let’s Practice: Plot

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Section B: Elements of a Plot

A story’s plot is the events that make up that story. The plot explains the “why” of a story and draws the reader into what’s happening. Within the plot, characters perform actions that make up the story. Three main elements support the events of the story.

Ø Characterization

o The author make choices for the character

o The author describes how the character is portrayed through actions, dialogue, appearance, and motivation

Ø Setting

o The time and location that the story takes place

Ø Conflict

o The dramatic struggle between two forces in a story

o Without conflict, there is no plot

o Protagonist à story’s main character

o Antagonist àa character who opposes the protagonist

These elements above, along with the events of the plot, are essential parts of every literary story.

Let's Practice: Elements of a Plot