1. Why do stories need plot?
Answer the following question in your notebook:
Why do stories need plot?

2. What is plot?
The action of a story; the sequence of events from beginning to end.

3. What makes plot different from story?
Plot has CONFLICT!

4. Climax Rising Action Falling Action Resolution
Inciting Incident
Exposition
Resolution

5. Why the Triangle?
Introduced by German critic Gustav Freytag in Technique of the Drama (1863).
He adopted it from Aristotle’s Poetics (335 BCE)
Plot Structure originally devised to describe the action and parts of drama

6. Plot Parts: Exposition
hooks the reader
gives background information
introduces the characters and setting
sets the tone
foreshadows the conflict and theme

7. Plot Parts: Inciting Incident
Formally introduces the main conflict
Raises a question in the reader’s mind that is usually only answered in the climax

8. Plot Parts: Rising Action
series of events and actions that build in intensity
Suspense increases

9. Plot Parts: Climax Occurs when the conflict is about to be resolved
When the question raised in the inciting incident is about to be answered
Results in change for the main character
Sometimes occurs at the end of the story, without falling action

10. Plot Parts: Falling Action
All of the events and actions after the climax that lead to the resolution
Minor conflicts may be resolved here

11. Plot Parts: Resolution
Most of the reader’s questions are answered
The lesson the character is supposed learn is revealed – sometimes told to the reader through one of the characters

12. How many different types of Plot structures are there?
Episodic: events are held together mainly by the fact that they happen to the protagonist.
Unified: events are carefully organized to create the effect of unity of action, constituting one action with a continuous sequence of beginning, middle, and end. See Freytag’s Triangle.
Polyphonic: main plot is interwoven with one or more subplots that enhance its meaning
Courtesy of

13. hero & antagonist change positions
Tragic Plot
Turning Point
hero & antagonist change positions
Crisis
Rising Action
Hero leads
Antagonist is at a disadvantage
Falling Action
Antagonist leads
Hero is at a disadvantage more & more
Inciting Incident
Exposition
Catastrophe
Death of hero

14. Other Dramatic Plot Terms
Climax
Crisis
Reversal
Rising Action
Falling Action
Inciting Incident
Exposition
Dénouement

15. Climax Rising Action Falling Action Resolution
Inciting Incident
Exposition
Resolution

16. Protagonist
From Greek “protos” for “first” and “agōnistēs” for “actor”)
Also known as the hero or heroine
the central character— the one the audience identifies with the most

17. Antagonist
is the force working against the protagonist. This force can be another character, a group of characters, or something nonhuman, such as nature, fate, society.

18. Suspense
A lack of certainty about what is going to happen, especially to the characters the reader has bonded with—protagonist

19. Surprise
When what happens in a story contradicts our expectations.