Plot Structure!
Events in the story (story line) Plot Events in the story (story line) Climax Rising Action Falling Action Resolution Exposition
Exposition Introduces characters and introduces conflict
Setting Time and place Can create the conflict, atmosphere, mood of the story
Characterization The way an author reveals a character’s personality By telling us directly By describing how they look By what they character says By revealing the character’s thoughts By the way others react or feel about him/her By the character’s actions
Complication/ Rising Action Obstacles that the character(s) face as the story progresses; all the actions that take place before the climax
Conflicts Internal Conflict- character struggles mentally to resolve an issue with their individual needs, desires, or emotions External Conflict- character struggles against outside forces: * Person vs. Person * Person vs. Society * Person vs. Nature
Turning Point/ Climax Climax- Outcome of conflict that is about to happen (turning point of the story).
Falling Action All the actions that take place after the turning point/crisis/climax: leads to the final resolution of the conflict (can be happy or unhappy)
Resolution/ Denouement When the story’s problems are resolved (happy or unhappy) and the story comes to an end
Other components to Plot… Imagery Cause/Effect Tone
Imagery The use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete sensation of a person, thing, place or experience.
Cause and Effect Cause is why something happens Effect is the result of some event or action Understanding cause/effect can help you understand what happens in the plot, and why it happens *as you read “The Bass, the River and Sheila Mant,” think about the causes behind the narrator’s behavior. Think about the effects of Sheila’s words and actions.
Tone Attitude the writer takes toward the subject of the work, the characters in it, or the audience writers try to manipulate language to achieve a certain effect Single word examples: solemn, playful, sarcastic, ironic, critical, reverent (respectful), irreverent (disrespectful), philosophical (truth-seeking)