LITERARY ELEMENTS

To be continued…

AND SHE LIVED HAPPILY EVER

AFTER…

HOLD UP.

WAITAMINUTE.

WHAT’S HER

STORY?

___ Cinderella lives unhappily with her stepsisters and their mother___ Cinderella leaves hurriedly at at midnight and loses a slipper___ A fairy godmother appears and provides Cinderella with clothes, coach, and footmen___ The prince says he will marry the woman whom the slipper fits___ Cinderella and the prince live happily ever after

ORDER, PLEASE!___ An invitation to the palace ball arrives___ Cinderella and the prince marry___ The stepsisters prepare for and go to the ball___ The stepsisters try to force their feet into the slipper, but it fits only Cinderella___ Cinderella goes to the ball and dances with the prince

5. PLOT

the main events of a play, novel, movie,

or similar work, devised and presented

by the writer as an interrelated sequence

What shapes the story• Events that make up the story

5. PLOT

the basic structure of the story

the series of related events in which a

problem is explored and then solved

created through conflict—a struggle between

people, ideas and other forces

can have more than one conflict

events can shift from past to present

THE FIVE STAGES OF A PLOT

All the World is a Stage

Exposition

Plot Diagram

5.1 EXPOSITION

The characters and setting are revealed• You are given background information• Get to know [almost] all of ‘em!

Sets the scene for conflict• You get your first taste of the main problem• Who is the protagonist and what is his / her

main goal? What is at stake if s/he fails to attain it?

5.2 RISING ACTION

The conflict or problem is developed

Events in the story become more

complicated

Shows the progression of the story

You find out more about the different

characters

5.3 CLIMAX

The highest point of interest in a story

The tension, suspense, or most

exciting part• The “Turning Point”• Will the conflict be resolved?• What is going to happen next?

Shows what

happens to the

characters after the

climax

Events and

complications are

usually resolved• You know “what

happened next”

5.4 FALLING ACTION

5.5 RESOLUTION

Shows how the conflict is resolved• Concludes the falling action

Draws the story to an end

HOMEWORK

Answer the Activity Sheet attached to

your handout

Be ready to check and discuss the

answers

NO HW, NO ENTRY, NO GRADE FOR

THE DAY

LITERARY ELEMENTS: THE

PLOT

Day Two

WHAT’S GOING ON?

Figure it out

THE CONFLICT

I’m sorry. Is there a problem?

CONFLICT

Why is it necessary? Why is it

important?

Without any conflict or problem, a

story would probably be pretty boring

CONFLICT

Any opposition that the main character

faces

Does not refer to verbal arguments alone• Battles• Internal struggles• Etc.

CONFLICT

Two main types:• External• Outsides one’s self

• Internal• Within one’s self; must make

some decision, overcome pain, quiet one’s temper, resist an urge, etc.

1. MAN VS. HIMSELF

A character has trouble deciding what to do

or think

The struggle is internal

A character must overcome his own natures

or make a choice between two or more paths:

good and evil; logic and emotion

When a character

has a conflict or

problem with another

character• Involves two

different characters in a story

2. MAN VS. MAN

2. MAN VS. MAN

Most common type of conflict

There are many reasons why a

character can have a conflict with

another character

Not all conflicts or problems

3. MAN VS. NATURE

A character has a conflict with

Mother Nature, who, at times, is

unpredictable

Nature can leave people devastated

by its power

CONFLICT

Why is it necessary? Why is it

important?

Without any conflict or problem, a

story would probably be pretty boring

Can there be more than one conflict?

THE CONFLICT IS PART OF THE PLOT

the series of related events in which a

problem is explored and then solved

created through conflict—a struggle

between people, ideas and other forces

can have more than one conflict

events can shift from past to present

WHAT IS THE PLOT?

the main events of a play, novel, movie,

or similar work, devised and presented

by the writer as an interrelated sequence

What shapes the story• Events that make up the story

Exposition

Plot Diagram

PLOT DEVELOPMENT

How a story progresses

Three types:• Man in a hole• Man in a tub• Man on the road

The character

has a problem and

s/he needs to solve

it• Problem = hole• Get outta there!

1. MAN IN A HOLE

2. MAN IN A TUB

In the story, the

character focuses

internally and may lead

to change in point of

view, attitude, feeling,

conviction, self, and

concrete action

The story is

about a journey,

not about finding a

solution to a

problem

3. MAN ON THE ROAD