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The plot is the content of the story, the plan of action
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The plot is made up of FOUR ELEMENTS:
1. Conflict
2. Complications,
3. Climax
4. Resolution
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Without a PLOT, there is no story.
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A PLOT is a series of happenings in a story, which refers to the action as it is organized around a conflict and builds through complication to a climax followed by a resolution.
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Another name for PLOT is storyline.
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The events of a plot usually follow this pattern: the conflict or problem is established; complications arise from the conflict; a main character takes decisive action, or the situation itself brings about a climax.
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Conflict is a struggle, which takes place in the story.
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It is a physical or emotional struggle between two forces; it is what keeps a story interesting and keeps your attention.
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A conflict may be internal or external.
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There are five types of conflict.
1. Man v Man
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This is the most common conflict. This is when the antagonist opposes the protagonist.
2. Man v Society
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The protagonist finds himself/herself in a position that is uncommon with society.
3. Man v Nature
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This type of conflict puts the protagonist in a situation where he/she must overcome the forces of nature.
4. Man v Self
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This is when the protagonist is in conflict with him/her self.
5. Man v God
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This is very hard to write about. It is when the protagonist feels that God wants something from him/her and they struggle with whether or not to follow the wishes of God, the antagonist.
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The main character
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The force working against the main character. It may be a character, society, a force of nature or even a force within the main character.

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A Genre is a classification of a story type.
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Autobiography, Memoir, Poetry, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Realistic
Fiction are all examples of Genres.
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Every story begins with an Exposition (Introduction)
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During the exposition, essential information about the setting, time, and character relations are usually established.
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As soon as the story reaches a point where the conflict can be introduced, the rising action begins.
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In any story, the rising action is not necessarily a steady build; instead it builds along with the conflict. As the conflict becomes more intense, the
Action RISES.
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The highest point in the rising action.
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The rising action ends at the climax and the protagonist comes face to face with the problem; a turning point in the action follows.
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The Climax is the decisive point in a story when the central problem or conflict must be resolved.
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It is the explanation or outcome of the story.
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It occurs between the climax and the end of the story.
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It is where the author ties all the loose ends together.
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The physical, moral, and emotional picture of the characters.
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We learn about a character through 4 ways
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By what the author stays about the character
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By what the character says about him/herself
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By what the other characters say about the character
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By how the character reacts or behaves in various situations
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The setting is the Time (both time of day or season and period in history) and place in which the story takes place.
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A contrast between what appears to be and what really is.
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When what you expect happens, the opposite occurs.

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Fixed, generalized ideas about characters and situations based on who they are, their nationality, race, job, or where they live.
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The use of one person or thing to represent or suggest another.
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Something concrete, such as an object, person, place, or action that stands for something more abstract, such as an idea, feeling, or emotion.
For example a flag symbolizes patriotism.
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The author’s attitude about a subject.
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It is how the author feels about what he/she is writing about.
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Words that describe attitude include: bitter, humorous, sympathetic, indignant, whimsical, joyous, cynical, ironic, and bitter.
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A brief prose, that has one plot, few characters, and is build around one main incident.
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It has a unity or time, place, and action.
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It emphasizes setting, character, or action.
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Unity of time: the story takes place in a short span of time.
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Unity of place: The story takes place in on general locality.
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Unity of action: The story is built around one main incident.
For the Quiz, you must know the following definitions:
The 5 types of conflict _____1. Plot
_____2. Conflict
_____3. Protagonist
_____4. Antagonist
_____5. Genre
_____6. Exposition
_____7. Rising Action
_____8. Climax
_____9. Falling Action
_____10. Irony