What is Plot?
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.
What are theTypes of
Plots
Plots can be told in
Chronological order
Flashback
In media res (in the middle of things)
when the story starts in the middle of the
action without exposition
What is Plot Structure?
Freytag’s Pyramid is often modified so that it
extends slightly before and after the primary
rising and falling action. You might think of this
part of the chart as similar to the warm-up and
cool-down for the story.
What are Plot Components?
Climax: the turning point, the
most intense moment—either
mentally or in action
Rising Action: the series of
conflicts and crisis in the story
that lead to the climax
Falling Action: all of the
action which follows the
climax
Exposition: the start of the
story, the situation before the
action starts
Resolution: the conclusion,
the tying together of all of
the threads
What is Conflict?
Conflict is the dramatic struggle
between two forces in a story.
Without conflict, there is no
plot.
What are the Types of
Conflict
Person vs Person
(often seen in the form of two
characters against each other; it
doesn’t have to be physical. It can be
a battle between ideas).
Person vs Nature
External
conflict
(this can include weather, objects,
activities … )
Person vs Society
(main character(s) encounters struggle with the
laws or beliefs of a group)
Person vs Self
(the struggle in one’s head)
Internal
conflict
There are other types of conflict that I may also choose to cover with you in class.
What are the minor types of
conflict?
• Person vs.
technology
(Protagonist battles
against machines or
other types of tech)
Person vs. the
supernatural
(Protagonist battles
against the unknown,
like ghosts, devils,
spirits, etc.)
In the following sentences, I have given you some different
types of situations. Identify the type of conflict in each
situation:
1. "If student A and student B decide to fight over something,
that could be described as a conflict between two...?" -- the
answer would be a conflict between two people.
Man vs Man
2. "If student A has problems getting to school during the
winter because of the snowfall and icy conditions, this could be
described as a conflict or struggle with...?" Man vs Nature
3. "If a person has problems finding a job because he/she does
not have the education typically seen as necessary for getting a
job, this could be seen as a conflict between this person and...?"
Man vs Society
4. “A person has problems with his conscience because he/she is
being pressured to treat another student poorly, but yet wants to
remain popular with his/her friends.
Man vs Self
What is a SUBPLOT?
A subplot is a secondary story line that is not equal in
strength and intensity to the main plot. It must be
relevant to the main plot.
Subplots may:
•create the feeling of more life-like main characters.
•reflect and enhance the action of the main plot.
•influence the direction of the main plot.
•provide comic relief.
Examples of subplots:
1. In the main plot of a romance, one or both of the
main characters may resist commitment. Another couple
in the story, perhaps friends, confidantes, or
coworkers of the main characters, are also falling in
love but having problems that show aspects of the love
relationship the primary story line does not. The main
characters, through their involvement with the other
couple, may learn from what they see and come to
realize their own love for each other should not be
denied.
(Examples are continued on next slide)
Examples of subplots:
2. In a story of conflict between a parent and a child,
subplots involving a neighbor or friend's child may give
some perspective on the main plot. Another subplot
might be a visit from a grandparent that casts the
parent back into the child role, an experience that
helps that parent recall what his own childhood was
like and results in a better understanding of his own
child's behavior.
We’ve heard of Parallel Plots,
BUT
What is it anyway??
Parallel Plots: Plots in which each main character
has a separate but related story line that merges in
the end.
Examples:
•Murderer and Detective
•Two family members with opposite goals or methods
•Rivals for a job
•Old enemies
(parallel plots to be continued on next slide ….)
Parallel Plots
In the plot outline, main character 1 has the first
section. The story then moves to main character 2 and
alternates between the two characters until they come
together in the end. Each main character and his or
her plot receive equal time. Each segment of the story
moves the plot forward in time. An occasional scene
may overlap in time, but the general movement should
be forward.
In the parallel plot, the characters might start out
together and separate to follow their own paths. Or
they may not connect until the end. Their story lines
are related and the climax occurs when the two come
together at the end.
(To be continued on the next slide)
Parallel Plots
OK – let’s take all of the information on Parallel Plots that you have
learned about in the last two slides and try to put this in terms both
you and I can understand.
Have any of you ever seen the movie, “Crash”? In this movie there
are many different characters and each of them has their own
separate story. Throughout the movie, the story line of all characters
is played out. You are thoroughly confused trying to keep up with each
character and wondering how this all relates, and then,all of a sudden
toward the end of the story, you start seeing how each of these
characters come together at the end through one common factor. Will
Smith’s movie, “Seven Pounds” was similar to “Crash.”
And if you have never seen these movies, have you (shhh, I won’t tell)
ever watched a Soap Opera on TV? Think about all the different
characters, but somehow, many of them seem to have something in
common with another character in the show. The events of their lives
cross somewhere and at some time throughout the duration of the
show. Yip, you got it ---- parallel plots.
You have learned about PLOT (and the story-plot
triangle and its components – exposition, rising action,
climax, falling action, and resolution), about conflict,
subplots, AND you have learned all about parallel plots.
Now, I would like for you to turn to your partner and
explain what each of these components are and where
they occur in the story. I would also like for you to
give an example – other than the ones I have used.
Good luck and get started!!