ENG 2PI Ms. Phillips

 PLOT— the story line, which can be graphed out into a specific pattern. There are five main parts to a plot graph.  Introduction: includes the setting, introduces the characters, and gives important background information.  Initiating Incident: the spark or conflict, which begins the action.  Rising Action: a series of cause and effect events, which begins with the initiating incident and ends at the climax  Climax: the highest point of action  Resolution: the conflict is resolved, and the story is concluded

 Theme is the main message behind the story  Examples of common themes: love, revenge, the supernatural, appearances vs. reality, redemption.

 The point from which the story is told  first person major (the narrator of the story is the main character of the story)  first person minor (the narrator of the story is a minor character in the story)  third person omniscient (the author, with all inclusive vision narrates.)

 How we learn about characters:  what a character says  what a characters does  what others say about the character  what the author tells us about the character  what the character thinks  what the character wears  the character’s name

 (See previous note) 6. Setting  SETTING —the time, place, tone, mood and atmosphere of the story

 Take the short story, “The Trickster”, and identify the following:  Make a plot graph (Include all 5 points)  Explain the point of view and how this adds to the story  Explain the type of conflict and how this adds to the story  Explain the setting – Remember the setting also includes the time period, the atmosphere (feel) as well as the location of a story.