Plot Structure Plot Structure, Conflict, Characters, Setting, Theme, and Point of View

Free Write (4 minutes)  In the WRITING section of your Writer’s Notebook, answer the following question. You should be writing for the entire time.  What words do you think of when you hear and/or see “story”?  This should be at least six bullet points.

What is a short story?  A fictional work of prose that is shorter in length than a novel.  Ranges from 1,000 to 2,000 words  Can be read in one sitting  Focuses on one main plot and one main theme  Few characters involved

Plot Structure Through Short Stories  Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows the arrangements of events and actions within a story.

 Plots can be told in:  Chronological Order: events occur in the order they happen  Flashback: events go back and forth between past and present  In Media Res (in the middle of things): when the story starts in the middle of the action without exposition Types of Linear Plot

Pyramid Plot Structure  The most basic and traditional form of plot is pyramid-shaped.  This structure has been described in more detail by Aristotle and Gustav Freytag.

Exposition: the start of the story, where characters, conflict and setting are established Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax, the story’s aftermath Resolution (Dénouement): the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads Plot Components

Conflict  Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.

Types of Conflict  External Conflict: a conflict between the main character and another outside force  Categories of External Conflict  Character vs. Character  Character vs. Nature  Character vs. Society What examples can you think of for each category of external conflict?

Types of Conflict  Internal Conflict: a conflict within a character, usually where part of the character’s personality is struggling for dominance What are some examples of internal conflict?

Types of Characters  The protagonist is the main character in a literary work.  He or she is usually seen as good, respectable, and always trying to make the right choice.  The antagonist in a literary work stands in opposition to the protagonist.  He or she will be viewed as bad, wicked, or malicious.  Hint: Anti = against  Protagonists and antagonists will be clearly distinct and remain consistent.

Theme  The total meaning of the story  IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE TIED UP IN A SIMPLE MORAL.  In many cases, stories are packages that allow readers to see the outcomes of certain behaviors or actions.  Without a theme, the story lacks meaning or purpose.  Sometimes the theme is stated, sometimes it is only implied.  What are some examples of theme in Disney movies?

Setting  The time and location in which a story takes place  For some stories the setting is very important, while for others it is not.  Place : Where is the action of the story taking place? (Geographical location)  Time : When is the story taking place? (Historical period, time of day, year, etc.)  Weather Conditions : Rain, wind, sun, fog, etc.  Mood : What feeling is created at the beginning of the story? (Bright and cheerful or dark and frightening?  How do parts of setting impact the story and/or one another?  Example: A story set in the mountains during a blizzard.  What can this tell us, the readers, about the mood of the story?

Types of Point of View  First Person Point of View : The narrator does participate in the action of the story and usually are the protagonist of the story.  When reading stories in the first person, we need to realize that what the narrator is recounting might not be the objective truth.  We should question the trustworthiness of the accounting.

Types of Point of View (POV)  Third Person Point of View  Here the narrator does not participate in the action of the story as one of the characters, but lets us know exactly how the characters feel.  We learn about the characters through this outside voice.

Types of POV  Third Person Omniscient  A narrator who knows everything about all of the characters is all knowing, or omniscient.

Types of POV  Third Person Limited  A narrator whose knowledge is limited to one character, either major or minor, has a limited omniscient point of view.  Ex: Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Harry Potter, etc.

What does POV do for a story?  As you read a piece of fiction think about these things:  How does the point of view affect your response to the characters?  How is your response influenced by how much the narrator knows and how objective he or she is?

REMEMBER!  First person narrators are not always trustworthy. It is up to you to determine what is the objective truth in the story.  There are always two sides to every story and always consider how POV contributes to our understanding.