1. What is plot? Plot and Freytag’s Pyramid

2. What is plot? Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story/novel. Plot is the series of related events that make up a story.

3. Plot structure components Exposition Rising action Climax Falling action Resolution All of these components can be illustrated in Freytag’s Pyramid.

4. Freytag’s Pyramid (modified) Exposition Rising action Climax Falling action Resolution

5. Exposition Explains the start of the story; the way things are before the action starts. Always introduces you to characters and settings

6. Rising action Series of conflicts in the story that lead to the climax Conflict- struggle between opposing forces; two types: internal and external. Internal conflict- struggle with oneself External conflict- struggle with an outside force or another person

7. Climax The turning point of the story; the most intense moment; point of most suspense/highest action Here is the “edge of your seat” moment

8. Falling action All of the action that follows the climax (moves faster than the rising action)

9. Resolution Conclusion of the story; most of the time, all loose ends are tied together to finalize the story.

10. So, that’s what plot is! Now, to use it…