PLOTDon’t keep me in suspense-tell

me about it!

So What Is Plot Anyway?

PLOT is the sequence of events that hold a story together

It is the way in which the action of a story unfolds

Basically, it’s everything that happens between “Once upon a time” and “Happily ever after”

The Building Blocks of Plot

A typical plot has four parts

1. Exposition (sometimes called the basic situation)

2. Rising Action (sometimes called complications

3. Climax

4. Resolution (sometimes called falling action or denouement)

Exposition Any background information that the reader is

given regarding main conflict, characters, setting, plot, etc.

The beginning of the story usually provides a lot of exposition because the author is setting up the story.

However, exposition doesn’t only show up at the beginning of a story. It can be found at any point in the story depending on how the author decides to reveal background information

Let’s Discuss: Why might an author choose NOT to reveal a lot of background information at the beginning of a story?

Rising Action: Complications of the main conflict

This is the action that complicates the main conflict and/or main character’s ability to resolve his main conflict

These complications are sometimes called “obstacles”

These complications often involve an antagonist to the main character

Sometimes authors choose to create entire subplots in order to complicate the main conflict

Climax

The point at which you see how the main conflict will be resolved THIS IS THE DEFINITION YOU NEED

TO KNOW FOR THIS CLASS!

This means first you need to determine the main conflict, right?

Falling Action This is the last part of a basic plot

It is where things are either “all wrapped up” or left “unwrapped” if the author wants to leave you hanging

Falling action is sometimes called resolution but, not all stories are completely resolved

You want to feel really smart? Use the fancy French word for falling action: denouement. It’ll impress your friends and the guys/ladies.

The Plot Structure

Class Activity

Plot mini cartoon

Homework

1. Read the short story “The Sniper” by Liam O’Flaherty

2. Map out the plot of “The Sniper” on the given worksheet