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

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

What is plot? Conflict is very important, because it creates the tension, or suspense, that keeps us reading to find out what happens next. Cowichan Secondary English

What is plot? Conflict can be obvious and exciting, or subtle and gradual, but without conflict, there is no plot. Cowichan Secondary English

Plot Diagram Can you remember the main parts of a plot diagram? 6 5 7 8 9 3 1 2 4 Cowichan Secondary English

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. Cowichan Secondary English

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). Cowichan Secondary English

2. Initiating Incident This is the first thing that happens in a story. (“Initiating” means “starting”). 2 Cowichan Secondary English

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 Cowichan Secondary English

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 Cowichan Secondary English

Incidents Of course, not every story is an exciting cliffhanger, and some plot diagrams can be very shallow. Cowichan Secondary English

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 Cowichan Secondary English

3. Crisis There can be more than one crisis in the rising action. Cowichan Secondary English

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 Cowichan Secondary English

4: Anti-climax Not every incident is followed by an anti-climax. 4 Cowichan Secondary English

5. Rising Action The rising action is everything between the initial incident and the climax. Cowichan Secondary English

5. Rising Action This part of the story develops the conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense occurs. Cowichan Secondary English

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. Cowichan Secondary English

7. Falling Action All loose ends of the plot are tied up. The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of. Cowichan Secondary English

8. Resolution The story comes to a reasonable ending. Cowichan Secondary English

There are several types of resolution Happy ending The main characters get what they want. Cowichan Secondary English

There are several types of resolution Unhappy ending The main characters don’t get what they want. Cowichan Secondary English

There are several types of resolution Tragic ending The main character dies or suffers great loss. Cowichan Secondary English

There are several types of resolution Surprise ending While the ending makes sense, it is not what the reader was expecting. Cowichan Secondary English

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. Cowichan Secondary English

There are several types of resolution Cliffhanger The conflict in a very exciting story is not resolved until the very last moment. Cowichan Secondary English

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. Cowichan Secondary English

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 Cowichan Secondary English

A few more terms you need to know. . . CSS English

Turning Point Where the protagonist makes a decision, or takes some action, that ultimately leads to the resolution of the story. Cowichan Secondary English

Foreshadowing When the narrator gives “hints” about events that occur later in the story. Cowichan Secondary English

Subplot A minor storyline, secondary to the main plot. Cowichan Secondary English

Flashback A break in the normal sequence of events, where an episode from the characters’ past is revealed. Cowichan Secondary English

Denouement The “unknotting” of plot and conflict following a climax. Cowichan Secondary English

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” Cowichan Secondary English

External Conflict Person versus Person Person versus Environment Person versus Situation Person versus Supernatural Cowichan Secondary English

Internal Conflict Intellectual conflict Moral conflict Spiritual conflict Cowichan Secondary English

Dilemma A problem with no “good” solution A choice between two or more undesirable options Cowichan Secondary English

Predicament A difficult problem with at least one “good” option A problem where the character involved can hope for a happy solution Cowichan Secondary English

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. Cowichan Secondary English

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