What Do You Need to Know About Plot and Setting? Feature Menu Plot Conflict Flashback Foreshadowing Suspense Your Turn Setting Mood

Plot Plot is the series of related events that make up a story or drama. Each event triggers another event. Like links in a chain, each event hooks our curiosity and pulls us forward to the next event.

Plot Plots are usually built in four basic parts. 3. Climax event event 2. Rising action event 4. Resolution 1. Exposition

Plot 1 Exposition outlines basic situation introduces characters and main conflicts Paul wants to go to an out-of-state university, but his family can only afford to pay the tuition at a local college.

Plot 2 Rising Action consists of a chain of events takes place as the main character struggles to achieve a goal or solve a problem Paul goes to work on a nearby farm to earn extra money. There he meets Miranda, and the two start dating.

Plot 3 Climax point of highest emotional intensity sometimes reveals the conflict’s outcome Paul and Miranda argue about his leaving for university. Paul must choose to stay or go.

Plot 4 Resolution events following the climax any remaining issues are resolved Paul decides to leave for university. Miranda makes plans to visit him and wishes him well.

Plot Quick Check Where in the plot would this scene occur? exposition rising action climax resolution Paul packed his last pair of jeans into his bag and carried it out to the car. His mom and dad—and Miranda—were waiting with sad smiles on their faces. Paul tried to smile back at them. He couldn’t. Instead, he placed his lucky bottle cap in Miranda’s hand and climbed into the car. He was surprised to find a little box on the seat next to him. Inside it, on a cushion of cotton balls, was Miranda’s lucky letter charm—”M” for miracles. [End of Section]

Plot: Conflict Conflict is the struggle or clash between opposing characters, forces, or emotions. Conflicts may be internal: firefighter vs. his or her own fear or external: firefighter vs. fire

Plot: Conflict An internal conflict is an emotional struggle that takes place within a character’s heart or mind. Early Saturday morning, Grandma Hattie called Tasha and asked her to go shopping. Tasha hesitated, then said, “Sure, Grandma.” Inside, Tasha cringed. Her grandmother would want to spend all day with her. When was she supposed to hang out with her friends?

Plot: Conflict An external conflict is created when a person or outside force prevents the main character from achieving his or her goal. External conflicts include struggles between two characters, a character and a group, or a character and something nonhuman.

Plot: Conflict Quick Check Is Sam’s conflict internal, or is it external? A day ago, Uncle Joe called with the news: “I have one extra ticket to tomorrow’s opening-day game!” Sam and James immediately began arguing. James said he should get the ticket because he’s older. Sam said he should get the ticket because his birthday is only a week away. Neither one is giving in. [End of Section]

Plot: Flashback A flashback is a scene that interrupts the action of the plot to move backward and tell what happened at an earlier time. Flashbacks Present provide background about the main events, and Past share a character’s past with us.

Plot: Flashback Although he disliked the smell and the slime, Martin posed joyfully, clutching his freshly caught fish. Present Past At his desk earlier that week, he’d doubted that he could enjoy a day at the river.

Plot: Flashback Quick Check Which sentence in this passage signals the beginning of a flashback? Kera walked into the high school gym and smelled fresh flowers. She thought of her grandmother’s house. When Kera was five, Nana gave her a basket to fill with fresh flowers. Kera hadn’t realized where her grandmother’s yard ended. She picked most of her flowers from the neighbor’s yard. [End of Section]

Plot: Foreshadowing Foreshadowing is the use of clues to hint at what is going to happen later in a story. Later Event Foreshadowing can make a story more exciting by increasing suspense. Clue Clue Clue Clue Clue Clue

Plot: Foreshadowing In the following passage, notice how the clues build to create suspense. As I turn our doorknob, my sweaty palm slips on the metal. I peer through the window. There’s Mom laughing with Aunt Jackie at the kitchen table. I let out a long breath, stuffing my report card into my backpack. It’ll have to wait until later. As I turn our doorknob, my sweaty palm slips on the metal. I peer through the window. There’s Mom laughing with Aunt Jackie at the kitchen table. I let out a long breath, stuffing my report card into my backpack. It’ll have to wait until later. The clues foreshadow a later event: Mom probably won’t be pleased with the narrator’s report card. [End of Section]

Plot: Suspense Suspense is the feeling of uncertainty or anxiety we feel about what is going to happen next in the plot. Suspense is created when writers hint at what may happen. ?

Plot: Suspense How is suspense built in the following passage? “Hey, Orlando, did you hear that?” “What?” Orlando answered sleepily. He pulled the covers up, but his younger brother shook his shoulder. “That!” Juan answered firmly. Orlando sat upright, suddenly awake. The writer hints that something is about to happen to Orlando and Juan. The reader may feel uncertain or anxious about what will happen.

Plot: Suspense Quick Check The storm raged outside as Laura sat alone watching television. A crash of thunder made her jump. She shuddered as the electricity went out. Laura nervously searched for a flashlight. The wooden floor creaked under the weight of each step. I never should’ve stayed home alone, Laura thought. Just then, she heard the floor creak again—but this time, she wasn’t moving. How does this passage create suspense? What might the passage foreshadow? [End of Section]

Setting Setting provides a background—a time period and place in which the action occurs.

Setting Settings may include a story’s location, and the social beliefs and customs of characters—how they live, dress, eat, and behave. Hong Kong

Setting Settings also may include descriptions of the weather, the time of day, and the time period (past, present, or future).

Setting Quick Check Which words in the passage help you imagine where the scene takes place? Tamika inhaled the sweet and salty air—popcorn, fried dough, and sunscreen. The buzz of children mingled with the joyful melody of the carousel. She looked down at Shana, whose dancing eyes seemed riveted on a stuffed pink unicorn. Shana squeezed her mother’s hand and led the way.

Setting A story’s setting can affect how the characters act and the conflicts they face. hurrying to catch the train nervous about being alone wondering about life

Setting Quick Check Just before his shift was over, Jared stepped outside. He glanced at the trash can. He hadn’t emptied it. With a shrug, Jared flipped up the lid and pulled out the trash bag. To his surprise, there, at the bottom, lay a wallet. Jared could see that it bulged with credit cards. He looked up. No one was in sight. In fact, Jared hadn’t seen a customer for over an hour. What conflict might be faced by this character? How does the setting relate to the conflict? [End of Section]

Setting: Mood Mood is the overall feeling you get when reading a story. A writer’s word choice and details about the story’s setting often create mood. mysterious menacing peaceful

Setting: Mood What words might a writer use to create each of the moods illustrated below? light breeze mysterious menacing fog drizzle jagged branches peaceful

Setting: Mood Quick Check Jamie gripped the tray, intently watching the tea cups, careful not to spill a drop. Martha, one of the more stylish ladies, wore an antique pin on her finely pressed suit. She was sure to be more critical than usual. Jamie never could understand why they held their meetings at her small and simple restaurant. What mood is created by word choice and details of this setting? [End of Section]

Analyze Plot and Setting Your Turn Choose a movie, television show, or story that is familiar to you. Exposition Rising Action Resolution Climax Draw a plot diagram like the one shown here. Add labels describing the key parts of the story’s plot. Use your imagination to write a flashback that could occur in one part of the story.

Analyze Plot and Setting Your Turn After you’ve finished your plot diagram, fill in a chart like this one to describe the setting and show its role in the story. Setting Title of story: Where story takes place: When story takes place: Details of setting that affect character: Details of setting that reveal mood: [End of Section]

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