Plot
Setting
Characters
Conflict
Point
of View
Theme


Plot -the sequence of events that characters
experience in a story
An effective story must contain a plot.
Plot Diagram
 Exposition-
the introduction of the
characters and the setting in the story
 Rising Action- the series of events that
describe a conflict that is intensifying or
complicating
 Climax- the highest point of interest or
action; usually at the end of story
 Falling Action- the result of the climax is
explained
 Resolution/Denouement- final outcome of
the story
Renaissance era;
Cinderella lives
with her
stepfamily.
They make her
wear rags and do
all the
hard work.
An
invitation
to the ball
arrives.
A fairy
godmother
appears and
provides
Cinderella
with clothes
and a coach.
Cinderella dances with the
prince, but leaves
hurriedly at midnight;
losing a slipper
Cinderella
goes to the
ball.
The stepsisters
go to the ball
and tell
Cinderella she
cant go.
The stepsisters
try to force their
feet into the slipper.
It fits Cinderella. Only
Cinderella’s feet fit.
The prince
says he
will marry
the woman
whom the
slipper fits.
Cinderella
and
the prince
marry.
They live happily
ever after in the
kingdom.
Three Ways Plot is Told:
1.) Chronological- beginning, middle, end
2.) In Medias Res- Latin phrase meaning “in the middle”
this is where a story begins in the middle
ex. Hangover movie
3.) Flashback- interrupts the normal sequence of events to
tell something that has happened in the past
* Foreshadowing- hint or clue about what will happen in a
story
Setting- Time and Place are when the action
occurs.
Place- location of setting
Time- when something occurs; two types of time
1.)Immediate- specific detail of the time in
the story.
Ex. Year, month, season, time of day?
2.)Global- a global description of what is
occurring during this time.
Ex. Era, war, beliefs, customs?
What is the setting (time/place) in Anne
Frank: Diary of a Young Girl?
Place? country of Holland; hidden attic
Immediate Time? 1939
Global Time? Nazis are occupying Holland &
seizing Jews because they are hated by the
Nazis
1.)Major/Minor Characters:
Protagonist -is the main/most important character (not always the
good guy). The protagonist usually changes and grows because of
experiences in the story.
Antagonist- is the person or thing that opposes the main character
(not always the bad guy). The antagonist does NOT change.
2.) Round vs. Flat Characters:
Round( major character) reveals many details and traits of a character.
Flat (major or minor character) reveals only one or two details about a
character.
3.)Static vs. Dynamic Characters:
Static – characters that do not change; stick to who they are
( remember “static cling”)
Dynamic – a character that grows and changes throughout the story
Hint: DEATH IS NOT A CHANGE
Three Types of Third Person P.O.V. :
1.)Third Person Limited – the narrator describes only
what one or two characters may say, think, feel, or
do (limited knowledge)
2.)Third Person Omniscient – the narrator is all
knowing and can tell the reader what all characters
may say,think,feel, or do
(all knowledge)
ex. God or higher power
3.)Third Person Objective-the narrator never tells
the reader anything about what the characters
think or feel. All you know is what they say or do.
DETACHED (no knowledge)
Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces/
the complications build the reader’s interest
Every
plot must contain some kind of conflict
Stories can have more than one conflict
Two types of Conflict: external (outside) or
internal (inside)
* External Conflict- struggles between a
character and forces outside the character. This
means it is something that the character can not
control.
* Internal Conflict- struggles between a
character and forces within the character.

External Conflict:
Ask yourself: What outside force is the character struggling with?
1.) Man vs. Man (man vs. boxer)
2.)Man vs. Nature/Environment (man vs. hurricane)
3.)Man vs. Society (Hitler vs. Jews)
4.)Man vs. /Technology/Progress (man vs. Terminator/robot)
5.) Man vs. Supernatural ( man vs. zombies)

Internal Conflict:
Ask yourself: What is the character struggling with within?
1.)Man vs. Himself (man vs. jealousy) , (man vs. cancer), (man vs.
making decision), (man vs. depression)
What is the conflict in “The Tale Tell
Heart”?
ExternalInternalWhat is the conflict in “Anne Frank: The
Diary of a Young Girl” ?
ExternalInternal-
Theme- central message ,idea, or lesson about life that the
author wants his reader to see
there
can be more than one theme in a piece of literature (as long as
it can be supported)
should be universal where the majority of society can relate to
them
Two Types of Themes:
Stated Themes – are directly present in the story (the theme is told
to you- you don’t have to infer)
* Ex. Children’s books
Implied Themes – must be inferred by considering all the elements;
reader has to figure out
* most stories contain implied themes because they are more
challenging to figure out
What is the theme in “The Tell-Tale” Heart?
-
What one thinks about can sometimes
control their actions.
Appearances can be deceiving .
One can never truly escape the power of
guilt.
Is it stated or implied? Implied; Reader has
to infer the theme on their own.
ALLUSION
 Reference to a person, place, or event from:
Literature
 History
 Religion
 Mythology
 Politics
 Sports
 Music
 Art
Ex. He met his Waterloo.

Studying was his Achilles heel.
This place is like a Garden of Eden.
We are in a real Catch-22.
He will never be a Jordan on the court.
A
contrast between expectation and reality
If something is “ironic”, it is
when what is expected is the
opposite of what happens in reality
“Ironic” by Alanis Morisette
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm-1xvWibt0
1.) Verbal Irony – saying one thing but meaning something
completely different.
Ex.
* see a 7 ft. tall person and say “Hi, Shorty”
* pouring raining outside and you say “Nice day…”
* telling your teacher how excited you are about the
upcoming test
2.) Situational Irony – A contradiction between what we
expect to happen and what really does happen
Ex.
* A fireman’s house burning down.
*
*
*
*
An Olympic swimmer who drowns.
A police station being held up by an armed robber.
A marriage counselor who’s been divorced three times.
choking on a lifesaver
Dramatic Irony – occurs when the reader knows something
important that the characters in the story do not know.
Ex.
* surprise birthday party
3.)
* horror movie scenario
* real identity of Batman
* talk show
Verbal Irony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmSBrmgdKts
Situational Irony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkjYye-0W4A&feature=player_embedded
Dramatic Irony
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/564972/dramatic_irony_excercise/
 An
object, person, or event that functions as
itself, but also stands for something more than
itself.
What do these images symbolize?