Plot Basic Situation Conflict Complications Climax Resolution Your Turn What Are Setting and Plot? Feature Menu Setting Influences problem and resolution problem and resolution Gives sense of reality Creates atmosphere

I.Setting A. The setting is where and when the action of a story takes place. B. The setting can influence a story in many ways. 1. Setting can influence the plot and it’s resolution. 2. The setting can give the story a sense of reality. 3. The setting can create an atmosphere. Setting

In many stories, setting is essential to the plot. Setting The setting in each of these stories controls the action. The story couldn’t take place anywhere else. The Arctic A rain forest A big city

In some stories, characters are in an external conflict with the setting: a person marooned in a small boat in the middle of the ocean Setting Influence on Story’s Problem and Resolution animals trapped by a raging forest fire people surviving on a cold mountain with no food The setting poses a challenge. If the characters triumph over the problem, the story has a happy resolution. [End of Section]

Setting Gives Story a Sense of Reality Vivid details help make a setting seem real. You can imagine how people live and dress what they eat and where they work [End of Section]

Relaxed Somber Creepy Setting Creates atmosphere Writers often use setting to create an atmosphere or mood. [End of Section]

Setting Quick Check Which words in the passage help you imagine where the scene takes place? The smell of pine made Ben dizzy—or perhaps it was the height. Either way, he and Tara had lost the desire to chat. Squirrels scampered and chattered in the limbs that supported the heavy wooden floor. Birds flew in close by to have a look at them, and all around them the long arms of pine trees waved in approval of the old hideout.

Setting The smell of pine made Ben dizzy—or perhaps it was the height. Either way, he and Tara had lost the desire to chat. Squirrels scampered and chattered in the limbs that supported the heavy wooden floor. Birds flew in close by to have a look at them, and all around them the long arms of pine trees waved in approval of the old hideout. Which words in the passage help you imagine where the scene takes place? The underlined words suggest that it takes place in a treehouse. Quick Check

Setting Quick Check Using the details of this setting, tell when the story takes place. With just enough kerosene to last until the next wagon to the fort, Mama turned down the lamp and set it on the hearth. It was Josh’s turn to poke at the coals and make the room glow. Jenny was outside tightening the wire door around the henhouse. In another week, they could fill out a form for claiming their little part of the new territory.

Setting Quick Check Using the details of this setting, tell when the story takes place. With just enough kerosene to last until the next wagon to the fort, Mama turned down the lamp and set it on the hearth. It was Josh’s turn to poke at the coals and make the room glow. Jenny was outside tightening the wire door around the henhouse. In another week, they could fill out a form for claiming their little part of the new territory. The story takes place in pioneer days.

Setting Quick Check The elevator opened onto a dark, narrow hallway. One after the other, identical- looking doors lined the long corridor. From behind one of the doors came a faint scratching sound. Glowing dimly, a sign at the end of hall probably said EXIT, but cobwebs almost completely covered the letters. What mood is created by the details of this setting? [End of Section]

Setting Quick Check What mood is created by the details of this setting? The details create a suspenseful, creepy mood. The elevator opened onto a dark, narrow hallway. One after the other, identical- looking doors lined the long corridor. From behind one of the doors came a faint scratching sound. Glowing dimly, a sign at the end of hall probably said EXIT, but cobwebs almost completely covered the letters.

II. Plot A. The plot is a series of related events that make up a story. B. Plots usually have four parts: 1. Basic Situation -who is the main character? -what do they want? -what is the character’s problem? 2. Complications (events) -additional problems that come up and keep the character from resolving the conflict

3. Climax -The most exciting part of the story -When you finally find out how the conflict will be resolved 4. Resolution -The final part of the plot -The main character’s problem is solved

III. Conflict A. There are two kinds of conflict: internal and external 1. Internal Conflict -takes place within the character 2. External Conflict -a struggle against forces outside the character

Most plots have four parts. Plot Basic situation Complications Climax Resolution

You can diagram a plot like this: Plot These events are the complications. The climax is the “high point” of the story. The resolution usually wraps up the “loose ends” of the story.

The basic situation usually answers these questions: The first part of the plot tells you about the story’s basic situation. Plot Basic Situation Who is the main character? What does the main character want? [End of Section] What stands in the character’s way? In other words, what is his or her problem, or conflict?

A conflict is a struggle. another character or a situation. Plot Conflict In an external conflict, a character clashes with an outside force:

Plot Conflict An internal conflict is a struggle that takes place within a character. The character might struggle to overcome fear, to exercise self-control, or to gain confidence.

When the conflict involves a setting, the setting is often extreme or life threatening. Plot Conflict [End of Section]

As the characters try to solve their problems, complications arise. Complications are additional problems that prevent the main character from resolving the conflict. Complications create suspense in the story. [End of Section] Plot Complications

When a story reaches its climax, it has reached its most exciting point. In the climax you find out how the conflict will be resolved, or worked out. [End of Section] Plot Climax

In the final part of the plot, the resolution, the main character’s problem is resolved. In a fairy tale... the clues are explained. In a mystery... they all live happily ever after. [End of Section] In an adventure... the survivors may be rescued. Plot Resolution

Quick Check As the hot July sun slipped below the horizon, a cooling darkness filled Central Valley. Lisa had just fallen asleep when the windows of the trailer rattled like a snake giving warning. The trailer swayed back and forth. Lisa could hear the baby crying. Papa yelled, “Outside! Get out! Get out! It’s an earthquake!” Plot 1. Who do you think the main character is? 2. What do you predict the external conflict will be?

Quick Check As the hot July sun slipped below the horizon, a cooling darkness filled Central Valley. Lisa had just fallen asleep when the windows of the trailer rattled like a snake giving warning. The trailer swayed back and forth. Lisa could hear the baby crying. Papa yelled, “Outside! Get out! Get out! It’s an earthquake!” Plot 1. Who do you think the main character is? We also know that there are at least two other characters: the baby and Papa. Lisa is probably the main character.

Quick Check As the hot July sun slipped below the horizon, a cooling darkness filled Central Valley. Lisa had just fallen asleep when the windows of the trailer rattled like a snake giving warning. The trailer swayed back and forth. Lisa could hear the baby crying. Papa yelled, “Outside! Get out! Get out! It’s an earthquake!” Plot 2. What do you predict the external conflict will be? The characters will struggle to make it safely through an earthquake.

Quick Check The earth groaned, and a river of mud slid down the canyon. The family huddled together in the dark. Mama tore up a sheet to make a sling for Papa’s broken arm. Papa shined his flashlight on the wreck that used to be the trailer. “It could explode,” he warned. “Don’t get any closer.” Plot This passage takes place a little later in the story. 3. What complications have come up?

Quick Check The earth groaned, and a river of mud slid down the canyon. The family huddled together in the dark. Mama tore up a sheet to make a sling for Papa’s broken arm. Papa shined his flashlight on the wreck that used to be the trailer. “It could explode,” he warned. “Don’t get any closer.” Plot 3. What complications have come up? - A mud slide has occurred. - Papa’s arm is broken. - The trailer is wrecked. - The trailer could explode.

Quick Check The baby kept crying. Lisa’s mother said, “I have nothing to feed him. What are we going to do?” Suddenly the earth rumbled again. Lisa looked back at the trailer and saw fallen electric wires dangling all over it. Plot 4. What new complications have come up? 5. What do you predict the family will decide to do? Why?

Quick Check The baby kept crying. Lisa’s mother said, “I have nothing to feed him. What are we going to do?” Suddenly the earth rumbled again. Lisa looked back at the trailer and saw fallen electric wires dangling all over it. Plot 4. What new complications have come up? - The baby doesn’t have any food. -The earth rumbled again. -Electric wires have fallen on the trailer.

Quick Check The baby kept crying. Lisa’s mother said, “I have nothing to feed him. What are we going to do?” Suddenly the earth rumbled again. Lisa looked back at the trailer and saw fallen electric wires dangling all over it. Plot 5. What do you predict the family will decide to do? Why? Lisa will probably go for help. Their situation is getting worse. Papa can’t go because of his arm, and Lisa’s mother is taking care of the baby.

Quick Check Lisa stumbled down the side of the canyon. She could hear a siren coming closer. The lights of a helicopter shone on her like a spotlight. “Stop! Help us!” she cried, frantically waving her arms. The copter drifted to the ground. Plot This passage takes place later in the story. 6. Why is this event probably the climax of the story? 7. Write a resolution for this story. What happens to the family? to Lisa? to the baby? to the mother? to Papa? [End of Section]

Quick Check Lisa stumbled down the side of the canyon. She could hear a siren coming closer. The lights of a helicopter shone on her like a spotlight. “Stop! Help us!” she cried, frantically waving her arms. The copter drifted to the ground. Plot 6. Why is this event probably the climax of the story? When the helicopter lands, we know how the conflict will be resolved: Lisa’s family will be rescued.

2.Choose a fairy tale that you know well. Analyze Setting and Plot Draw a plot diagram like the one shown here. Add labels describing the key parts of the story’s plot. Your Turn

The End