1. Plot Structure and Characterization

2. Plot Structure What is plot? Arrangement of events and actions
Elements:
Exposition
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Denouement (Resolution)
Sequence of events that make up a story
Gustav Freytag (1816 – 1895) was a German dramatist and novelist. He came up with the structure for the way stories are told in ancient Greek and Shakespearean drama. This analysis (5 part) is known as Freytag’s analysis.

3. Freytag’s Analysis

4. Updated plot diagram

5. Plot Structure Exposition: Beginning of a story
-Characters: Protagonist, Antagonist
-Setting
-Conflict: External and/or Internal
Rising Action: Events leading up to the climax
Climax: Peak of rising action and conflict
-High point
-Turning point to mark a change

6. Plot Structure Falling Action: Events after the climax
-Includes effects of the climax on characters
Denouement/Resolution: Conflict is resolved
-End of the falling action and conclusion
-Usually a release of dramatic tension and anxiety (catharsis – “cleansing”)
-Originates from the old French word denoer, which meant “to untie.”

7. Characterization How the writer reveals the personality of a character
-Direct characterization
Direct characterization tells the audience
“The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and minded their father.”

8. Characterization
Indirect characterization: shows things that reveal the personality of a character
S.T.E.A.L:
Speech: What does the character say?
Thoughts: What is revealed?
Effect on others toward the character
Actions: How does the character behave?
Looks: What does the character look like?
Mnemonic Device
From ReadWriteThink.org

9. Types of Characters Protagonist: Central character
Antagonist: Directly opposes protagonist
Dynamic: changes throughout the plot of a story
May be sudden but expected based on the story’s events
Static: little changes if any, stagnant
from the Greek πρωταγωνιστής protagonistes, "one who plays the first part, chief actor"
Protagonist: Katniss Everdeen, Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker, Hobbit, Edward Cullen
Antagonist: President Snow, HG Organizers, Voldemort, Darth Vader, Gollum, James, the Volturi, Victoria

10. Types of characters
Round character – complex personalities; a character whose personality, background, motives, and other features are fully delineated by the author.
Flat character – relatively uncomplicated; one-dimensional

11. Find one example of direct and one example of indirect characterization. Page number and explanation.
So far, who is the protagonist and who is the antagonist?
Who is a more round character and who is more flat?
Who do you predict will be a dynamic character, and who will be a static character?