1. Plots and Plot Diagrams
Feel free to take notes!
CSS English

2. What is plot?
Plot is the term which describes all of the events that happen in a story, AND the conflict in the story.
Cowichan Secondary English

3. What is plot?
Conflict is very important, because it creates the tension, or suspense, that keeps us reading to find out what happens next.
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4. What is plot?
Conflict can be obvious and exciting, or subtle and gradual, but without conflict, there is no plot.
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5. Plot Diagram
Can you remember the main parts of a plot diagram? 6 5 7 8 9 3 1 2 4
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6. 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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7. 1. Exposition
This usually occurs at the beginning of a short story. Here the characters are introduced. We also learn about the setting of the story. Most importantly, we are introduced to the main conflict (main problem).
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8. 2. Initiating Incident
This is the first thing that happens in a story. (“Initiating” means “starting”). 2
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9. Incidents
Each even that happens in a plot is called an incident. These are all incidents in the plot.
Obviously, the longer a story is, the more thngs are likely to occur in the story. 2
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10. Incidents
On a plot diagram we draw a line connecting the incidents. If the incident is very exciting, we draw a steep line, as shown here. 2
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11. Incidents
Of course, not every story is an exciting cliffhanger, and some plot diagrams can be very shallow.
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12. 3. Crisis
Sometimes an incident is very exciting, such as when the protagonist has a life or death decision to make. This is a crisis. 3
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13. 3. Crisis There can be more than one crisis in the rising action.
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14. 4: Anti-climax
Often, following a crisis, the tension level often goes down, and the reader can relax a bit. This is an anti-climax. 4
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15. 4: Anti-climax Not every incident is followed by an anti-climax. 4
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16. 5. Rising Action
The rising action is everything between the initial incident and the climax.
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17. 5. Rising Action
This part of the story develops the conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense occurs.
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18. 6. Climax
This is the most emotionally intense moment of a story, and is usually close to (or identical to) the turning point of the story.
Often, the main character comes face-to-face with the main conflict and is forced to take action.
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19. 7. Falling Action
All loose ends of the plot are tied up. The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.
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20. 8. Resolution The story comes to a reasonable ending.
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21. There are several types of resolution
Happy ending
The main characters get what they want.
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22. There are several types of resolution
Unhappy ending
The main characters don’t get what they want.
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23. There are several types of resolution
Tragic ending
The main character dies or suffers great loss.
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24. There are several types of resolution
Surprise ending
While the ending makes sense, it is not what the reader was expecting.
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25. There are several types of resolution
Indeterminate ending
There is no clear outcome. The reader is left wondering exactly how the conflict would be resolved.
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26. There are several types of resolution
Cliffhanger
The conflict in a very exciting story is not resolved until the very last moment.
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27. How do I make a plot diagram?
Begin by making a list of the most important things that happen in the story. If you write them directly on the lower half of a sheet of paper, you won’t have to rewrite them later.
Draw a dot above the initial incident in the story, and then draw a line to the next dot. If the event is exciting, draw a steep line, if not, draw a shallow line.
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28. How do I make a plot diagram?
Add the exposition, then above your plot diagram, label
The exposition
The initial incident
At least one crisis
At least one anti-climax
The rising action
The climax
The falling action
The resolution
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29. A few more terms you need to know. . .
CSS English

30. Turning Point
Where the protagonist makes a decision, or takes some action, that ultimately leads to the resolution of the story.
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31. Foreshadowing
When the narrator gives “hints” about events that occur later in the story.
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32. Subplot A minor storyline, secondary to the main plot.
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33. Flashback
A break in the normal sequence of events, where an episode from the characters’ past is revealed.
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34. Denouement The “unknotting” of plot and conflict following a climax.
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35. Conflict
The central struggle of a story, that adds dramatic tension (the reader reads on to find out what is happening).
The main conflict between the protagonist and someone or something else is called the “central conflict”
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36. External Conflict Person versus Person Person versus Environment
Person versus Situation
Person versus Supernatural
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37. Internal Conflict Intellectual conflict Moral conflict
Spiritual conflict
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38. Dilemma A problem with no “good” solution
A choice between two or more undesirable options
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39. Predicament A difficult problem with at least one “good” option
A problem where the character involved can hope for a happy solution
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40. Frame Story
The result of inserting one or more small stories within the body of a larger story that encompasses the smaller ones.
The opening part of the story usually has some exposition, while the closing offers a commentary.
Examples are Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, Heart of Darkness by Conrad.
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41. Story within a Story
The result of inserting one or more small stories within the body of a larger story that encompasses the smaller ones.
The opening part of the story usually has some exposition, while the closing offers a commentary.
Examples are Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, Heart of Darkness by Conrad.
Cowichan Secondary English