Why do stories need plot? Answer the following question in your notebook: Why do stories need plot?

What is plot? The action of a story; the sequence of events from beginning to end.

What makes plot different from story? Plot has CONFLICT!

Climax Rising Action Falling Action Resolution Inciting Incident Exposition Resolution

Why the Triangle? Introduced by German critic Gustav Freytag in Technique of the Drama (1863). He adopted it from Aristotle’s Poetics (335 BCE) Plot Structure originally devised to describe the action and parts of drama

Plot Parts: Exposition hooks the reader gives background information introduces the characters and setting sets the tone foreshadows the conflict and theme

Plot Parts: Inciting Incident Formally introduces the main conflict Raises a question in the reader’s mind that is usually only answered in the climax

Plot Parts: Rising Action series of events and actions that build in intensity Suspense increases

Plot Parts: Climax Occurs when the conflict is about to be resolved When the question raised in the inciting incident is about to be answered Results in change for the main character Sometimes occurs at the end of the story, without falling action

Plot Parts: Falling Action All of the events and actions after the climax that lead to the resolution Minor conflicts may be resolved here

Plot Parts: Resolution Most of the reader’s questions are answered The lesson the character is supposed learn is revealed – sometimes told to the reader through one of the characters

How many different types of Plot structures are there? Episodic: events are held together mainly by the fact that they happen to the protagonist. Unified: events are carefully organized to create the effect of unity of action, constituting one action with a continuous sequence of beginning, middle, and end. See Freytag’s Triangle. Polyphonic: main plot is interwoven with one or more subplots that enhance its meaning Courtesy of http://www2.cnr.edu/home/bmcmanus/tools.html

hero & antagonist change positions Tragic Plot Turning Point hero & antagonist change positions Crisis Rising Action Hero leads Antagonist is at a disadvantage Falling Action Antagonist leads Hero is at a disadvantage more & more Inciting Incident Exposition Catastrophe Death of hero

Other Dramatic Plot Terms Climax Crisis Reversal Rising Action Falling Action Inciting Incident Exposition Dénouement

Climax Rising Action Falling Action Resolution Inciting Incident Exposition Resolution

Protagonist From Greek “protos” for “first” and “agōnistēs” for “actor”) Also known as the hero or heroine the central character— the one the audience identifies with the most

Antagonist is the force working against the protagonist. This force can be another character, a group of characters, or something nonhuman, such as nature, fate, society.

Suspense A lack of certainty about what is going to happen, especially to the characters the reader has bonded with—protagonist

Surprise When what happens in a story contradicts our expectations.