{plot Structure} and {story elements}

{warm-up} video

{plot} Plot is the sequence of events or actions in a short story, novel, play, movie, TV show, or narrative poem. The plot always follows the same general outline.

{plot structure}

{exposition} The structure of a work begins with the exposition, in which the author lays the groundwork for the reader by revealing the setting, the relationships between the characters, and the situation as it exists before the conflict begins.

{setting} Setting is the time and place in which events in a short story, novel, play, movie, TV show, or narrative poem take place. Panem, the future New York City / across the USA, modern day Greg’s school and home, present day

{setting} Some books do not come out and say exactly where the story is taking place. Readers must use clues from the writing to infer the time and place.

{complication} The complication is the part of a story where something interrupts the harmony and balance of the situation and one or more characters comes into conflict with something.

{rising action} The rising action is the part of a story where the tension is rising. There are events in the story that usually cause suspense and give the reader more information.

{conflict} Conflict is a term that describes the tension between opposing forces in a work of literature.

{external conflict} External conflict is conflict happening on the “outside” of a person and deals with some sort of outside force. External conflicts: character vs. character character vs. nature/fate character vs. society

{internal conflict} Internal conflict: character vs. self Internal conflict takes places within a character’s mind. When internal conflict is present in a story, the character is constantly questioning themselves or a decision they must make. Internal conflict: character vs. self

{climax} The climax is the pivotal moment (or turning point) or the story. This is the most exciting point and is usually where something is revealed to a character.

{Falling action} The falling action is/are the event(s) that lead toward a revelation of meaning that occurs during the resolution.

{resolution} The resolution is the unraveling or conclusion of the problem set up by the complication.

{Point of View} Point of view is the perspective from which a narrative is told. first person  the narrator is a character in the story third person  the narrator is not part of the story but tells the reader about the action omniscient point of view  the narrator knows about all of the events taking place limited point of view  the narrator only knows about the events in regard to one of the characters

{theme} Theme is the central message of a literary work. It is expressed as a sentence or general statement about life or human nature. A literary work can have more than one theme. Most themes are not directly stated but are implied.

{Characters} Characters are the people or animals who take part in the action of a literary work.

{Characterization} video

{protagonist} The protagonist is the central character of a drama, novel, short story, movie, TV show, or narrative poem. This is who the action is happening to. The protagonist in The Dark Knight Rises is Batman / Bruce Wayne.

{antagonist} The antagonist is the person/thing opposing the protagonist. This is the adversary. (Usually the “bad guy.” The antagonist in The Dark Knight Rises is Bane.

{the end}