elements of plot

Elements of Plot

PLOT

Plot: the series of events in a story; answers the question, “What happened?”

Plot Diagram

It’s everything!!!

EXPOSITIONIn the beginning…

EXPOSITION

Sets up the story and introduces the following:• Setting • Characters• Conflict

Characters

PROTAGONIST

The protagonist is the central (main) character.

The Good Guy!!!

ANTAGONIST

• The antagonist is usually the other main character and the opposing force.

The Bad Guy!!!

CONFLICT

• the story’s problem or dilemma

• can be internal (within a person) or external (an outside force)

• four types of conflict

PERSON VS. PERSON

Protagonist vs. Antagonist(External)

PERSON VS. ENVIRONMENT

Protagonist vs. Nature/Elements(External)

PERSON VS. TECHNOLOGY

Protagonist vs. Machines(External)

PERSON VS. SELF

Protagonist vs. Him/Herself(Internal)

Sequence of Events(It’s part of the plot!)

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

• Also called the rising action• The order in which events occur• Usually starts after the conflict is identified• May only be a few events, or may be many

Climax

CLIMAX

• most exciting moment of the story

• most likely find out how the story is going to end

• The last event that turns the story around before the resolution

Resolution

RESOLUTION/CONCLUSION

• The ending of the story

• The final part of the plot

• Problems are solved one way or another and the story ends

Theme

THEME

• The theme is the lesson or moral of the story.

• To find the theme, look at the conflict.

• How did they problem arise? The theme is usually rooted there!

Be kind to others Cheaters never

win

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side

Honesty is the best policy

Things

aren’t as

they appear

Be careful what you wish for

Point of View

POINT OF VIEW (POV)

• the way the author allows you to "see" and "hear" what's going on in the story.

• There are three types:1. First Person 2. Third Person Limited3. Third Person Omniscient

FIRST PERSON POV

• The narrator is a character in the story.

• He/She can reveal only: 1. personal thoughts and feelings2. what he or she sees3. what is told by other characters.

The narrator can’t tell us thoughts of other characters.

• Words to look for: I, Me, My, and Mine

THIRD PERSON LIMITED

• The narrator is an outsider who can report only what he or she sees and hears.

• The narrator can tell us what is happening, but he can’t tell us the thoughts of the characters.

THIRD PERSON OMNISCIENT

• All seeing and all knowing

• The narrator is an outsider who sees into the minds of all the characters.

Author’s Purpose

All fiction is meant to entertain!!!!!!!

Really, it’s over!