1. Literary Element Glossary
Fill in the blanks on your handout.

2. Plot
Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows arrangement of events and actions within a story.

3. Plot Components Climax: Falling Action: Rising Action:
Highest point of interest or tension in a story
Typically resolves the problem in the conflict
Rising Action:
The inciting events that lead up to the climax
These events build from the conflict and ends at the climax
Complications are the bulk of the story.
Falling Action:
Events that wrap up the story or wind down to the Resolution or possibly a cliffhanger
Exposition: The mood and conditions existing at the beginning of the story. The setting is identified. The main characters with their positions, circumstances and relationships to one another are established. The exciting force or initial conflict is introduced. Sometimes called the “Narrative HOOK” this begins the conflict that continues throughout the story.
Rising Action: The series of events, conflicts, and crises in the story that lead up to the climax, providing the progressive intensity, and complicate the conflict.
Climax: The turning point of the story. A crucial event takes place and from this point forward, the protagonist moves toward his inevitable end. The event may be either an action or a mental decision that the protagonist makes.
Falling Action: The events occurring from the time of the climax to the end of the story. The main character may encounter more conflicts in this part of the story, but the end is inevitable.
Resolution/Denouement: The tying up of loose ends and all of the threads in the story. The conclusion. The hero character either emerges triumphant or is defeated at this point.
Resolution: Wraps up and concludes a story. Feels like “the end”. OR
Cliffhangers: Little or NO falling action; reader is left with unanswered questions. The story doesn’t feel finished.
Exposition: Provides background information that is typically located at the beginning of a story
Includes descriptions
Setting: Time period and location

4. Conflict The problem that moves the plot/story forward
There is NO story without conflict
The protagonist works to solve the problem
Main conflict is always Protagonist vs. Antagonist.
Conflict causes the climax.

5. Plot: Types of Conflict
Character vs. Character
Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Society
Character vs. Self

6. Plot: Character vs. Character Conflict
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with another character, human or not human.

7. Plot: Character vs. Nature Conflict
The main character is in conflict with the forces of nature, which serve as the antagonist.

8. Plot: Character vs. Society Conflict
The main character is in conflict with a larger group: a community, society, culture, etc.

9. Plot: Character vs. Self Conflict
The main character experiences some kind of inner conflict.

10. Internal and External An internal conflict takes places within a
character’s mind.
Character vs. Self
An external conflict takes place with another
person or force.
Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Society
Character vs. Character