Unit 1 Short Story Plot

Plot Pyramid Terms Exposition Inciting Incident Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution Denouement

Exposition Sets up the setting Description and background (of characters, place, time, etc.) – Where? Who? When?

Inciting Incident Single action that begins the conflict or action

Rising Action Excitement builds, leads to climax

Climax Greatest moment of tension, excitement Turning point of the story

Falling Action Action after the climax to the end, often moves quickly

Resolution Main problem solved

Denouement Conclusion: remaining questions answered, mysteries solved (French for “untie”)

The Plot Pyramid

The Plot Pyramid in “Cinderella”

Exposition

France 1700’s, Cinderella, Stepmother, Step sisters, dead mother, father died leaving Cinderella in the care of her wicked step mother who has forced her to become a servant in her own home.

Inciting Incident

Whole family is invited to Royal Ball Cinderella’s animal kingdom friends make her a custom dress Her stepsisters ruin it and force her to stay home

Rising Action

Fairy Godmother appears, gives Cinderella a new dress and a carriage Curfew set at 12am Cinderella goes to the ball She meets the prince They fall in love

Climax

Midnight Strikes! Cinderella runs and leaves behind her tiny glass slipper

Falling Action

Step mother finds out about Cinderella going to the ball Cinderella is locked up Prince searches the kingdom Step Sisters claim the slipper is theirs All Steps deny anyone else is in the house Cinderella gets out (with help from her furry friends)

Resolution

The slipper fits!

Denouement

Cinderella’s identity is established The Steps are exposed as the fiends they are Cinderella lives happily ever after