Identifying the Elements of A Plot Diagram

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Identifying the Elements of A Plot Diagram

• Part I
• Student Notes

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Plot Diagram
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Plot (definition)

• Plot is the organized pattern or sequence of
  events that make up a story. Every plot is made
  up of a series of incidents that are related to
  one another.

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1. Exposition

• This usually occurs at the beginning of a short
  story.
• Here the characters and setting are introduced.
• Most importantly, we are introduced to the main
  conflict (main problem).

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2. Rising Action

• This part of the story begins to develop the
  conflict(s).
• A building of interest or suspense occurs.
• Problems arise making the conflict difficult to
  resolve.

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3. Climax

• This is the turning point of the story (where
  EVERYTHING changes).
• Usually the main character comes face to face
  with a conflict.
• The main character WILL CHANGE IN SOME WAY.

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4. Falling Action

• All loose ends of the plot are tied up.
• The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.

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5. Resolution

• The end of the story!

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Putting It All Together
1. Exposition 2. Rising Action 3. Climax 4.
Falling Action 5. Resolution
Beginning of Story
Middle of Story
End of Story
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Conflict

• There are 4 (four) different kinds of conflict a
  person can face
• 1. Character vs. Character
• 2. Character vs. Nature
• 3. Character vs. Society
• 4. Character vs. Themselves

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Character vs. Character

• A character in the story has a problem with
  another character in the story.

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Character vs. Character

• Physical fight
• Verbal fight
• Good vs. Evil
• Example
• Superheroes fighting off the villain.
• Now you think of an example

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Character vs. Nature

• When the character faces a problem that is with
  nature it is beyond anyones control.

Can you think of an example?
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Character vs. Nature

• Blizzard Examples The Wizard of Oz
• Flood The Perfect Storm
• Storm Titanic
• Landslide
• Avalanche
• Animal attack
• Tornado
• Hurricane
• Ocean troubles

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Character vs. Society

• When a character has a problem with society as a
  whole.
• If society is stopping someone from reaching
  their goal.

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Character vs. Society

• Gay marriage
• Inter-racial marriage
• Racism
• Prejudice
• Religion
• Political reasons
• War
• Examples Brokeback Mountain, Hotel Rwanda, the
  1960s counterculture, Civil Rights, Avatar

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Character vs. Themselves

• If the character is not reaching their goal
  because of an inner conflict/struggle within
  themselves.

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Character vs. Themselves

• Some moral struggle.
• When you want to do something but you hold
  yourself back.

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External vs. Internal Conflict

• The four types of conflict can be labeled as
  either external conflict or internal conflict.
• External outside of yourself (outside force)
• Internal inside of yourself (inside force)

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External vs. Internal Conflict

• Guess if the conflict is external or internal
• Character vs. Character
• ? external
• Character vs. Nature
• ? external
• Character vs. Society
• ? external
• Character vs. Themselves
• ? internal

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Lets Practice Plot and Conflict with Cinderella!

• 1. Exposition
• 2. Rising action (Conflict)
• 3. Climax
• 4. Falling Action
• 5. Resolution
• Conflict

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Elements of PlotPart II

• Student Notes

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CHARACTERIZATION

• Creating developing a character.
• The author tells what the character looks like,
  does, says, or how others react to him/her.

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THEME

• Central message of the story

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SETTING

• Time and place of the story.

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POINT-OF-VIEW

• First Person a character in the story is
  telling the story. (I am 1!)
• Third Person told through the eyes of ONE
  character/narrator. (Uses he/she)
• Omniscient the all-knowing narrator.
• - Knows EVERYTHING about EVERY character.