1. Plot (The Story Grammar) Story Action Plot

2. (1)STORY Usually refers to the whole work Setting + characters + action + tone & style + POV Any narrative – fiction, nonfiction, drama, poetry (as long as involved significant action). E.g: The Watergate Story, The Story of Adam & Eve, The Story of Romeo & Juliet

3. (2) ACTION All the things that happen in a story, especially those things that involve the characters. a) Internal action – happen inside a character’s mind consciously or not (a dream) b) External action – happen outside a character’s mind, done by the character or to the character (hurricane)

4. c) Real-life Action – all kinds of actions, trivial to catastrophic. A lot is random and some are more significant. Need to make decision as difficult to record simultaneous action. A writer can only suggest that several things are happening at same time. d) Fictional Action – all action is significant not random. Action presented sequentially. There are habitual action & unique action

5. (3) PLOT Meaningful arrangement of the significant action in a story A summary of the unique & significant action in that work Artistically arranged sequence of events that serves as the skeleton for the whole story Exposition, rising action, conflict, suspense, development, falling action, denouement The categories above can be reordered to change the storyline.

6. (3a) CONFLICT (complication) A clashing of forces that causes the central dramatic tension in a story Very important element without which there would hardly be a story to tell. Built into the rising action Any external or internal problem a human being experiences & longs to resolve Classified as i) People vs. people ii) People vs. society iii) People vs. nature iv) People vs. themselves

7. (3b)SUSPENSE A condition created by uncertainty A state of curiosity, uncertainty, anxiety about a conflict or problem, the outcome which cannot as yet be determined Depends on empathy Begins as soon as conflict/prob r introduced Problem – complications – cliffhanger – resolution.

8. (3c) DEVELOPMENT Events that grow out of a conflict before it is resolved Every narrative needs movement The sequence of events must develop logically

9. (3d) Denouement Every conflict must have a denouement The final outcome or solution of a drama or narrative, in which all is explained The denouement must fit the plot Some are clear and simple, others are more complex &subtle

10. Foreshadowing A clue or a hint of things to come in literary works.