Identifying Elements of Plot
What is a plot? A plot is the organized chain of events that make up a story.
Why do readers need to think about the plot? Keeping track of the events in a story helps readers better understand how characters run into problems, react to problems, and solve problems.
What are the chain of events in a plot?
1. Exposition This usually occurs at the beginning of the story. The characters and the setting are introduced.
2. Complicating Incident The complicating incident is the point where the conflict or problem in the story begins. –Person vs. Self Person vs. Nature –Person vs. Person Person vs. Fate –Person vs. Society
2. Rising Action This part of the story develops and shows more about the conflict(s). This builds interest and suspense.
3. Climax This is the turning point of the story. Usually the main character comes face to face with the conflict. The main character will change in some way.
4. Falling Action All loose ends of the plot are cleaned up. The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.
5. Resolution The story comes to a reasonable ending.
Putting the chain of events together 1.Exposition + Conflict 2. Rising Action 3. Climax 4. Falling Action 5. Resolution Beginning of Story Middle of Story End of Story
The Three Little Pigs Once upon a time there were three little pigs. The time came for them to leave home and live in the world on their own. Before they left, their mother told them "Whatever you do, do it the very best that you can because that's the way to get by in the world.” The first little pig was lazy and he built his house out of straw because it was the easiest thing to do. His house wasn’t very strong but he didn’t care. He wanted to build it as fast as possible so he could spend the rest of his time taking a long nap. The second little pig liked to do things fast so he could have plenty of time to play. He chose to build his house out of sticks. Quick as a wink, he built his house and then sat down to play games for the rest of the day. The third little pig liked do things well. He built his house out of bricks which was a difficult task and took more time than building a straw or stick house. But after stacking brick after brick he felt very good about the time he spent building a nice strong home to live in.
One night a big bad wolf, who lived nearby and dearly loved to eat little pigs, came along and saw the first little pig sitting inside his house of straw. He walked right up to the little piggie’s door and said "Let me in, Let me in, little pig or I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in!" "Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin,” said the little pig. “Then I will huff and puff and blow your house in,” said the wolf. The wolf took a deep breath and blew the house down to the ground. The first little pig ran all the way to his brother’s stick house. The wolf followed the first little pig to his brother’s house of sticks. "Let me in, Let me in little pigs or I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in" "Not by the hair on our chinny chin chins," said the little pigs. But the wolf blew that house in too! The the two little piggies had to run all the way to their brother’s house made of bricks. The wolf then came to the house of bricks. "Let me in, let me in," cried the wolf. “I'll huff and I'll puff till I blow your house in!" "Not by the hair on our chinny chin chins," said the three little pigs.
Well, the wolf huffed and puffed and he huffed and puffed…. but he could not blow that brick house down. The wolf was sly and strong-minded. He came up with a plan and climbed up on the roof to look for a way into the brick house. The little pigs saw the wolf climb up on the roof so they lit a roaring fire in the fireplace. When the wolf finally found the hole in the chimney he crawled down and KERSPLASH he fell right into the hot kettle of water. The wolf ran out the door and was never seen again.. The next day the little pigs invited their mother over to the third pig’s house. She said "You see it is just as I told you. The way to get along in the world is to do things as well as you can." Fortunately for all the little pigs, the third piggy learned that lesson and his house kept the family safe. And together they lived happily ever after!
What strategy can I use to follow the plot of a story?
What are the chain of events in this story?