1. What is the PLOT of a story?
Plot is the sequence of incidents or events of
which a story is composed. Most short
stories follow a similar line of plot
development. Although the author may not
follow the elements in the order given here,
these elements are almost always found
somewhere in the story.

2. LANGUAGE 9 SHORT STORY NOTES
PLOT

3. There are three ways to organize the time order of plots:
Chronological order - Time order. Events
occur in the order in which they occur.
Flashback - Start in the middle of the
events, then go back to the beginning to explain.
3. Interweaving - Many plots are explained at once, with characters moving back and forth between them. This is commonly used in Soap Operas.

4. Elements of Plot
Exposition - This first element is of vital importance. In it the author outlines, directly or by implication, background information which the reader must be aware of if he is going to understand the story. The exposition may act as an introduction to the story or it may be included in various places throughout the story as the need arises for an explanation to help the reader.

5. The following are part of the exposition:
A. Setting - Where and when the action occurs, and the mood and atmosphere of the setting.
B. Antecedent Action - The antecedent action allows the reader to become familiar with events that have occurred prior to the opening of the story, and which have led up to the situation or event beginning the story itself. The author will be selective and will include only those things which have a bearing on the story.

6. Elements of Plot Con’t…
2. Rising Action - This is the development of the events which will lead to the climax of the conflict. It is the bulk of the story, and includes several components:
A. Initial Incident - This is the first event which starts the action or which puts the plot in motion.
B. Motivation - this is the reason for the actions of the characters

7. Rising Action Con’t…
C. Complications - This is a series of events which complicates the plot. They stop or hinder the
protagonist from reaching his goal. Conflict is an important part of the complication. Conflict is absolutely essential in a short story. It is part of the complication on the plot diagram, and accounts for much of the story line.

8. EXTERNAL CONFLICT - This is when the protagonist (good
There are several kinds of conflict which an author can choose to include in his story. Sometimes he will have all of them, but most often, he will concentrate on one or two.
EXTERNAL CONFLICT - This is when the protagonist (good
guy) struggles against a force outside of himself.
Choices include:
Man vs Man - the protagonist struggles with another person in a physical or mental (battle of wits) conflict
Man vs Beast - the protagonist struggles with a beast in a physical or mental (battle of wits) conflict
Beast vs Beast - two animals struggle against each other - usually in a physical struggle.

9. Types of Conflict Con’t…
ENVIRONMENTAL CONFLICT - This is when the protagonist (good guy) struggles against some naturally occurring force of nature. For example, the protagonist may be lost in the woods, or stranded in a blizzard. It is a struggle for him to overcome the obstacles he faces.
INTERNAL CONFLICT - This is when the protagonist (good guy) struggles against some issue within his mind. Think of it as man vs his conscience. For example, the protagonist may have a conflict which shows his values: “Should I make friends with that weird kid or not?” He and his conscience will argue about what the right thing to do is.

10. Rising Action Con’t…
D. Suspense - This may or may not be used in any given story, but it is the quality of the plot which arouses the reader’s curiosity and anxiety regarding what will happen next. It may be achieved through the use of:
>mystery - an unusual set of circumstances which may be difficult to be explained.
>dilemma - the protagonist is placed in a situation where all his choices are equally good or bad.
>dangerous situation - we feel concern for the safety of the main character.
>foreshadowing - clues which make the reader aware of what the ending will be like
>delay - the author stretches the description to make the reader wish for something to happen soon

11. Elements of Plot Con’t…
3. Climax - This is the point that the whole story is leading up to , or the highest point of suspense or tension which leads to resolving the conflict. It should come near the end of the story and give the readers an idea of the outcome.

12. Elements of Plot Con’t…
4. Falling Action - This is the sorting out of loose ends following the climax. It includes the things that happen once the climax is reached.

13. Elements of Plot Con’t…
5. Conclusion or Outcome - This signifies the end of the conflict. Outcomes may be happy (comedy - the conflict is solved successfully or the protagonist obtains what he wants), unhappy (tragedy - the protagonist is beaten by the forces acting against him),indeterminate (the conflict is not solved - we are left to imagine what exactly did happen), or surprise (the ending is not what the reader expected to happen). Unhappy and indeterminate endings are justifiable because they are realistic or they force the reader to think about life.

14. Elements of Plot Con’t…
6. Denouement - This is an optional element of plot - it is an explanation of the ending. The author will often explain the climax or what happened to the characters following the climax. It is often used in movies.

15. THE PLOT DIAGRAM - climax falling action suspense
conclusion complication
denouement
motivation
exposition initial incident
(setting and
antecedent
action)