1. Conflict in Literature

2. Terms to Know: Plot Exposition Rising Action Climax
Directions: Fill in the blanks of your notebook page as you see each slide.
Plot
Exposition
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution
Conflict
Protagonist
Antagonist
Person vs. Person
Person vs. Nature
Person vs. Society
Person vs. Self

3. Plot
#1 Plot:
the literary element that describes the structure of a story.
shows arrangement of events and actions within a story.

4. Plot Components
#4 Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment in the plot
#3 Rising Action: the series of conflicts that lead to the climax
#5 Falling Action: all of the action that follows the climax
Exposition: The mood and conditions existing at the beginning of the story. The setting is identified. The main characters with their positions, circumstances and relationships to one another are established. The exciting force or initial conflict is introduced. Sometimes called the “Narrative HOOK” this begins the conflict that continues throughout the story.
Rising Action: The series of events, conflicts, and crises in the story that lead up to the climax, providing the progressive intensity, and complicate the conflict.
Climax: The turning point of the story. A crucial event takes place and from this point forward, the protagonist moves toward his inevitable end. The event may be either an action or a mental decision that the protagonist makes.
Falling Action: The events occurring from the time of the climax to the end of the story. The main character may encounter more conflicts in this part of the story, but the end is inevitable.
Resolution/Denouement: The tying up of loose ends and all of the threads in the story. The conclusion. The hero character either emerges triumphant or is defeated at this point.
#2 Exposition: the start of the story; the situation before the action starts
#6 Resolution: the conclusion, ties the story together

5. Plot: Conflict
#7 Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.

6. Characters in a Conflict
#8 Protagonist:
main character in the story
character we are “for”
Pro = “for”
#9 Antagonist:
enemy of the main character
character we are “against”
Anti = “against”

7. Plot: Person vs. Person Conflict
#10 Person vs. Person – protagonist is in conflict with another character (the antagonist).
EXAMPLE:
Batman vs. The Joker
“good guy”
and “bad guy”

8. Plot: Person vs. Nature Conflict
#11 Person vs. Nature – protagonist is in
conflict with the forces of nature
EXAMPLE: Deadliest Catch
Protagonist = fishing crew
Antagonist = “Mother Nature” – cold, wind, water, etc.

9. Plot: Person vs. Society Conflict
#12 Person vs. Society – the protagonist is in conflict with a larger group: a community, society, or culture, etc.
EXAMPLE: Mulan
Protagonist= Mulan
Antagonist= her society
Mulan is a female in a male-run
society; she goes against her
culture’s views of what is “right”
to be a warrior.

10. Plot: Person vs. Self Conflict
#13 Person vs. Self – the protagonist experiences some kind of inner conflict.
EXAMPLE: Spiderman
Peter Parker must make a choice.
Mary Jane will be in danger if he continues to love her.
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
Can there be more than one conflict in a story? YES!

11. Check your paper. Are all your blanks filled?
Plot
Exposition
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution
Conflict
Protagonist
Antagonist
Person vs. Person
Person vs. Nature
Person vs. Society
Person vs. Self