elements of a plot diagram · on a plot diagram we draw a line connecting the incidents. if the...

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M Carmichael

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CSS English

MAC

Plot is the term which describes all of the events that happen in a story, AND the conflict in the story.

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

Conflict is very important, because it creates the tension, or suspense, that keeps us reading to find out what happens next.

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

Conflict can be obvious and exciting, or subtle and gradual, but without conflict, there is no plot.

Cowichan Secondary English

MACCowichan Secondary English

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Can you remember the main parts of a plot diagram?

MAC

Plot is the organized pattern or sequence of events that make up a story.

Every plot is made up of a series of incidents that are related to one another.

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

This usually occurs at the beginning of a short story. Here the characters are introduced. We also learn about the setting of the story. Most importantly, we are introduced to the main conflict (main problem).

Cowichan Secondary English

MACCowichan Secondary English

This is the first thing that happens in a story. (“Initiating” means “starting”).

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MACCowichan Secondary English

Each event that happens in a plot is called an incident. These are all incidents in the plot.

2

Obviously, the longer a story is, the more thngs are likely to occur in the story.

MACCowichan Secondary English

On a plot diagram we draw a line connecting the incidents. If the incident is very exciting, we draw a steep line, as shown here.

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MACCowichan Secondary English

Of course, not every story is an exciting cliffhanger, and some plot diagrams can be very shallow.

MACCowichan Secondary English

Sometimes an incident is very exciting, such as when the protagonist has a life or death decision to make. This is a crisis.

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MACCowichan Secondary English

There can be more than one crisis in the rising action.

MACCowichan Secondary English

Often, following a crisis, the tension level often goes down, and the reader can relax a bit. This is an anti-climax.

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MACCowichan Secondary English

Not every incident is followed by an anti-climax.

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MAC

The rising action is everything between the initial incident and the climax.

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

This part of the story develops the conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense occurs.

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

This is the most emotionally intense moment of a story, and is usually close to (or identical to) the turning point of the story.

Often, the main character comes face-to-face with the main conflict and is forced to take action.

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

All loose ends of the plot are tied up. The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

The story comes to a reasonable ending.

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

Happy ending The main characters get what they want.

Cowichan Secondary English

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Unhappy ending The main characters don’t get what they want.

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

Tragic ending The main character dies or suffers great loss.

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

Surprise ending While the ending makes sense, it is not what the reader was expecting.

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

Indeterminate ending

There is no clear outcome. The reader is left wondering exactly how the conflict would be resolved.

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

Cliffhanger The conflict in a very exciting story is not resolved until the very last moment.

Cowichan Secondary English

M Carmichael

CSS English

MAC

Where the protagonist makes a decision, or takes some action, that ultimately leads to the resolution of the story.

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

When the narrator gives “hints” about events that occur later in the story.

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

A minor storyline, secondary to the main plot.

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

The “unknotting” of plot and conflict following a climax.

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

The central struggle of a story, that adds dramatic tension (the reader reads on to find out what is happening).

The main conflict between the protagonist and someone or something else is called the “central conflict”

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

Person versus Person Person versus Environment Person versus Situation Person versus Supernatural

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

Intellectual conflict

Moral conflict

Spiritual conflict

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

A problem with no “good” solution A choice between two or more undesirable

options

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

A difficult problem with at least one “good” option

A problem where the character involved can hope for a happy solution

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

The result of inserting one or more small stories within the body of a larger story that encompasses the smaller ones.

The opening part of the story usually has some exposition, while the closing offers a commentary.

Examples are Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, Heart of Darkness by Conrad.

Cowichan Secondary English

MAC

The result of inserting one or more small stories within the body of a larger story that encompasses the smaller ones.

The opening part of the story usually has some exposition, while the closing offers a commentary.

Examples are Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, Heart of Darkness by Conrad.

Cowichan Secondary English

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