1. Plot Diagram (aka Freytag’s Pyramid)
English 9

2. What is the plot?
From Merriam Webster’s Dictionary: “the plan or main story (as of a movie or literary work)”
Plot refers to the sequence of events in a story.
Plots can vary from simple structures to complex interwoven structures.
A nice, simple synonym would be “storyline”!

3. Freytag’s Pyramid Does this look familiar?
The pyramid highlights the main “mileposts” of the story. They are:
Exposition
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Denouement

4. Exposition The way things are before any action
Helps introduce characters (characterization)
Types of characters:
Protagonist: main character; usually good guy but not always (think: Breaking Bad)
Antagonist: character who is against the protagonists; usually bad guy, but not always
Foils: characters who contrast protagonist to highlight qualities
minor characters: characters who are not a focal point of the story
The purpose of the exposition is that we can compare how they change later
Example: Showing Luke going about his life on Tatooine in the beginning helped us understand how much he changed when he became a Master Jedi.

5. Exposition, cont’d Introduces setting
Setting is crucial to a story! It can help us define our characters and set parameters for them, set up the tone or mood of the story, and can draw readers in to the story!
Helps us understand the conflict(s) that will arise!
Man v. Man
Man v. Nature
Man v. Self
Man v. Society

6. Rising Action According to the dictionary, rising action is:
“a related series of incidents in a literary plot that build toward 
the point of greatest interest”
Rising action presents and develops the major conflict in the text.
Minor conflicts may also arise during the rising action.

7. Rising Action, con’t
Example: In Star Wars, there are multiple points of rising action: Obi Wan convinces Luke to go to Mos Eisley. The Death Star blows up Alderaan. The Milennium Falcon gets taken in by the Death Star’s tractor beam. Luke, Han, and Chewy rescue Princess Leia and escape in the trash. Luke sees Obi Wan killed. R2-D2 shares the plan with the Rebel Alliance These all lead up to the climax!

8. Climax
Climax is the height of the story, the “can’t stop watching” part!
Climax, a Greek term meaning “ladder”, is that particular point in a story where the conflict or tension hits the highest point.
Example:
In Star Wars Episode IV, the climax is when Luke uses the Force to shoot a perfect torpedo into the Death Star’s weak spot.

9. Falling Action Follows the climax
Is usually relatively short, just to tie up loose ends
Some examples:
The return home after the battle; re-uniting the rescued person with their loved ones; the trial of the villain; the clearing up after the storm.

10. How come Chewy didn’t get a medal?!
Dénouement
Pronounced: Day-NEW-mah
Resolution or conclusion of a story—the final outcome
It places everything in proper order and allows the theme or sentiments of the movie or novel to resonate
How come Chewy didn’t get a medal?!

11. WARNING! Gray area…
Some stories omit falling action or dénouement for literary effect
Many mysteries end with a climax or a very, very short dénouement
In some stories the falling action/dénouement are difficult to tell apart and run together
Don’t feel like you have to have one correct, concrete answer! Don’t look for what’s not there, or try to force a part of a story into an element!

12. BONUS: something to keep in mind…
Campbell’s Monomyth, aka “The Hero’s Journey”…watch here if you need help:
and
How many movies, books, etc., can you think of that fit this concept?
Here is an example…
Describe your own for 4 BONUS POINTS!
(NO, it doesn’t have to be a Prezi…it could be a bulleted list, a paragraph, a diagram like the one on the left…whatever floats your boat!!