Kurmankulova Amangul
FP 402
What Does “Plot” Mean?
PLOT is the literary element that describes the
structure of a story. It shows the a causal
arrangement of events and actions within a story.
Every story has a plot, although the way that plot
develops differs.
Freytag’s Plot Pyramid
German novelist Gustav Freytag believed that the
plot of most narratives could be divided into five
main parts:
Exposition
Inciting Incident
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution/Denoument
1. Exposition:
Background information which tells us
something about the plot or characters of a
story. Exposition usually comes at the
beginning of a story. Exposition helps us to
understand the context (the circumstances) of
a situation.
2. Inciting Incident:
This is an event which helps to get things
moving. It is an event or situation which
forces the protagonist into action.
3. Rising Action:
The events leading up to the point of greatest
importance in a story.During this part of the story,
the protagonist comes to understand what they need
to do – what goal they want to achieve, or what
obstacle to overcome.At the point, the character
faces challenges which help prepare them for the
most important challenge, which is still to come.
4. Climax:
The peak of the action, when the conflict reaches
the crisis point.When the climax occurs, the reader
can usually predict what will happen to the
characters thereafter.The climax is where all of the
action builds to a breaking point, but that doesn’t
mean that it is necessarily the most exciting part of
the story.
5. Falling Action Definition: The events following
the climax.
In many cases, the falling action shows the effects of
the climax.Falling action isn’t boring. We often learn
a great deal about characters and themes in this
section of a story.
6. Resolution/Denoument:
The outcome. The final part of a narrative in which the strands of
the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.
Usually occurs at or near the end of a story.