1. Big 8 Components for Literary Analysis
Component #1: Plot

2. Plot as we know it: Plot is what makes a story “go”.
It is often seen as the most important element of fictional works by novice literary theorists, although that isn’t necessarily true.
Plot is more than just “the sequence of events in a story”, which is the simplest version of the definition that most students will see.
Plot is a complex arrangement of events, conflicts, complications, and resolutions that provide not only a what happens but a why it happens.
That is the key to plot…it provides a “why” for the story, especially when dealing with literature (interpretive texts).

3. Plot Then vs. Plot Now
Plot pre-1900 was very basic in most cases, with it being a noticeable pattern of background introduction, elevation of conflict, climax, then fallout from the ending of the conflict.
This provided stories that were easy to follow in many cases, and provided for entertainment that didn’t always require high levels of cognitive repackaging.
Authors in the 20th century and since have played with the traditional notion of plot, mixing up the known order and providing for ambiguity in the plot, requiring readers to be more involved in unpacking the “what” and “why” of the novel (much to the chagrin of many high school and college students).

4. Traditional “Flawed” Plot Diagram:3. 2. 4. 1. 5.
1._____________________________
2._____________________________
3._____________________________
4._____________________________
5._____________________________

5. Traditional “Flawed” Plot Diagram:3. 2. 4. 1. 5.
1. Exposition
2. Rising Action
3. Climax
4. Falling Action
5. Resolution

6. More Precise Traditional Plot Diagram:3. 4. 2. 5. 1.
1._____________________________
2._____________________________
3._____________________________
4._____________________________
5._____________________________

7. More Precise Traditional Plot Diagram:3. 4. 2. 5. 1.
1. Exposition
2. Rising Action
3. Climax
4. Falling Action
5. Resolution

8. How it ACTUALLY Looks…
(Or any other crazy shape that betrays the complexity of this term that has been overly trivialized by literature books across America!)

9. Exposition:
Exposition is where we get all of the important background information that will drive our expectations of the conflicts and climax ahead.
Setting is detailed in this typically, as is characterization of main and minor participants in the story.
This is also used to start hinting at the destabilizing point or “inciting incident” (where the first incline occurs on the map), where the conflict begins.
**REMEMBER** Expositions occurs throughout the work, typically rising action will “flatten out” at times and bring in more exposition as needed. Do not assume that once the rising action begins, nothing else needs exposition.

10. Rising Action:
This is the majority of a work that operates under traditional methods of writing.
This will contain all of the rises and falls that come with building suspense or interest in readers through heightening the conflicts and complicating them more as we head to a crisis point which will force the climax.
Rising action can very in its “steepness”. Sometimes we hit periods of extreme movement and sometimes things slow down, often separated by bouts of exposition.
**REMEMBER** Rising Action is not as steady and even as the typical maps present…good writing drags readers through varying degrees of intensity.

11. Climax: The climax is the point of highest tension in a story.
It often represents the culmination of the major conflict in the story, whether it be the more obvious external conflict or often the more subtle internal ones.
Climax is much harder to identify than it has been portrayed in literature classes. It isn’t always an easily defined point and can often be an arguable point in discussion (often because identifying what the primary conflict is isn’t always apparent).
**REMEMBER** The climax usually occurs in the last quarter of a work, but this isn’t a rule. Modern writers play with chronology often and it isn’t unheard of to see climax earlier.

12. Falling Action:
Falling action is comprised of the immediate fallout from the way the conflict is dealt with in the climax.
This provides the “and then” portion of a story that we often crave for closure’s sake.
Falling action can be seen as an afterthought in some works, but this is a mistake. It is extremely important in literature as it allows the author to color the climax action in a way to highlight theme.
**REMEMBER** Falling action is the IMMEDIATE results, Resolution is more about the LONG TERM.

13. Resolution:
Resolution is the long term results of what readers saw happen in the climax.
It is the “years later” element of a story.
Resolution is very important for plot, and not so essential to theme, which is the reason why it isn’t always found in primarily interpretive works.
**REMEMBER** Resolution is not always found in interpretive works, but when it is, it is worth paying attention to because the author has to specifically decide to include it for a purpose that points often to theme, similar to falling action.

14. Plot Assignment:
Choose a movie, tv show EPISODE, or book / story that you read outside of school and draw up a plot map for it.
Be sure to label each section including each of the following MINIMUM (also remember, minimum effort doesn’t always equate to the highest grade!)
Exposition: At least 5 important elements
Rising Action: I want at least 5 here as well, but if you’re hoping for an A, you might want to shoot for closer to 10
Climax: Identify the point of highest tension and how it is dealt with
Falling Action: At least 3 elements
Resolution: If it exists, include it…don’t be lazy and just leave this out because it isn’t required…always be precise, always be better.