What is Plot Structure

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What is Plot Structure

• Freytag Pyramid
• MICE

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Copy this Freytag Pyramid
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Plot Structure

• What is plot? What is plot structure?
• Plot - the main story arc of a literary work
• Elements of the Story Arc
• Exposition - introduction of the main characters
  and setting in shorter forms
• Rising Action - one (or more) characters in
  crisis
• Climax - point of highest emotion turning point
• Falling Action - resolution of characters crisis
  
• Resolution
• Plot Structure - one of a finite number of plans
  in which to tell a story

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Milieu, Idea, Character, Event

• M.I.C.E. QUOTIENT
• All stories contain four elements that determine
  structure Milieu, Idea, Character, and Event.
  While each is present in the story, one generally
  dominates the others.
• Which one dominates? The one that the author
  cares about most. This is why we often consider
  the process of discovering the structure of a
  story a process of self-discovery What is your
  story about? Who is the central or viewpoint
  character? Where is your story set? What is the
  purpose of your story? Once you have considered
  each of those questions, then you can ask, Which
  aspect of the story matters most to you? That is
  the aspect that will give you your story's
  structure.
• Let's take each element in turn and look at the
  structure that would be required if that is the
  dominant element in the story.

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MICE?

• Why the M.I.C.E. QUOTIENT?
• Plot Structure - How many basic plots are there?
• Aristotle- 2 basic plots Tragedies (Bad things
  happen to good people) and Comedies (Good things
  happen to good people).
• Shakespeare- 7 basic plots the Love story, the
  Revenge Story, Murder Mystery, the History, the
  Tall Tale, Coming of Age, and Hail Farewell.
• Joseph Campbell - 1 basic plot The Journey of
  the Hero.
• Robert Heinlein - 3 basic plots Boy Meets Girl
  Boy Looses Girl Boy Makes Girl.

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What does it mean?

• M.I.C.E. QUOTIENT
• Milieu - The Milieu is the world--the planet, the
  society, the weather, the family--all the
  elements that went into creating that special
  world.
• Idea - Idea stories are about the process of
  finding information.
• Character - The Character story is about the
  transformation of a characters role in the
  communities that matter most to him or her.
• Event - Event stories focus on events which rip
  the fabric of the universe or disrupt the natural
  order and cause the world to be in a state of
  flux.

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Milieu

• The Milieu StoryThe whole point of the story is
  to discover this strange, new world.
• Arrival - A Stranger from the outside arrives (by
  purpose or accident) he is unwelcomed and
  imprisoned, but gradually proves his worthiness.
• Initiation - Stranger is formally welcomed into
  the society taught the culture language shown
  sharp contrast between strangers world and
  present one which challenges the strangers own
  belief system.
• Departure - Stranger rejects or is torn away from
  society, returns home with greater self
  awareness.

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Idea

• The Idea StoryThe whole point of the story is
  the process of discovering information by those
  who do not know.
• A Question - The idea story begins with a
  question, and a scientist, a detective, or some
  other inquisitive character seeks to find an
  answer.
• Quest for Knowledge - Central character(s)
  gathers information from a variety of sources he
  may even employ the scientific method or a form
  of deduction to reduce the number of variables,
  but attempts to find an answer are complicated by
  many failures.
• The Answer - Gradually, repented failure leads to
  vindication, and the question is answered.

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Character

• The Character StoryThe whole point is about the
  transformation of a characters role in his
  community.
• Crisis - Central character becomes so unhappy,
  impatient, or angry in his present role that he
  begins the process of change (either consciously
  or unconsciously).
• Conflict - Others resist the central characters
  change, and attempt to change him back.
• Climax - Character either settles into a new role
  (happily or not) or gives up the struggle and
  remains in the old role (happily or not).

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Event

• The Event StoryThe whole point of the story is
  about the restoration of the proper order of the
  universe.
• Departure - Heroic figure hears the call to
  adventure (and sometimes refuses call) he is
  called to restore order to the universe he
  receives aid from a wizard, an elder, or
  supernatural force (usually in form of a magical
  weapon), and undergoes first trial by fire.
• Initiation - Hero undergoes more trials he falls
  for a goddess and is tempted by a temptress he
  meets his dark father and is wounded he finds
  great riches.
• Return - Hero restores order by defeating evil
  king returns home, older wiser, to empower
  others

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Brainstorm some examples to refer to

• Milieu
• Idea
• Character
• Event

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Do it

• Employing the M.I.C.E Quotient To Tell Your Story
• Select a major theme - Aliens, First Contact,
  Nuclear War, Time Travel, Etc.
• Determine the single element which will dominate
  - Milieu, Idea, Character, or Event
• Introduce a memorable character - Scientist,
  Explorer, Warrior, Innocent, Martyr, Politician,
  Orphan, Adventurer, Detective, etc.
• Create that other time or place, using special
  knowledge of - Science, Culture, Behavior, etc.

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Make a Freytag pyramid of your story

• Choose your theme and briefly explain it
• Choose you M.I.C.E focus
• Draw a freytag pyramid mapping your story
• Present your idea to the class