E LEMENTS OF F ICTION /P LOT

W HAT IS A C HARACTER ? The people or animals in a story

W HAT IS THE SETTING ? WHERE and WHEN the story takes place

W HAT IS CONFLICT ? The problem or struggle in the story Internal conflict takes place within a character’s mind (man vs. himself) External conflict takes place between a character and another outside force (man vs. man or man vs. nature/environment )

W HAT IS P LOT ? Plot is what happens in a story. Plot consists of a series of related episodes, one growing out of another. Most plots have four parts, which are like building blocks.

W HAT IS THE I NITIATING E VENT ? An idea or an action that sets plot events into motion; it is the event that causes the main conflict. As a result of the initiating event, the protagonist faces a problem or is working toward a goal. May occur before or after the exposition (the portion of the story that introduces background information to the audience) or even before the opening of the story.

W HAT IS THE B ASIC S ITUATION ? The first part of a plot tells you about the story’s basic situation: who are the characters, what the setting is, and what the conflict is.

W HAT ARE C OMPLICATIONS (R ISING A CTION )? In the second part of a plot, one or more of the characters act to resolve the conflict. Now a series of events takes place that makes it very hard for the character to get what he or she wants. These events are called complications or rising actions.

W HAT IS THE C LIMAX ? The climax is the turning point of the story. This is the point at which the author hints to how the conflict will be solved.

W HAT IS THE R ESOLUTION ? The resolution is the last part of the story where the conflict is solved one way or another. This is where the loose ends of the plot are tied up and the story is closed.

Climax Resolution Complications (Rising Actions) Basic Situation Characters Setting Conflict Plot Diagram