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    Plot Structure

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    Marilo Costa
    The document discusses various elements of plot structure including exposition, conflict, climax, and resolution. Exposition introduces characters and setting. Conflict builds tension and can be internal or external. The climax is the decisive moment of highest tension. Resolution concludes the crisis either positively or negatively. Plots can follow a linear or circular structure.

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    Plot Structure

    Uploaded by

    Marilo Costa
    274 views109 pages
    The document discusses various elements of plot structure including exposition, conflict, climax, and resolution. Exposition introduces characters and setting. Conflict builds tension and can be internal or external. The climax is the decisive moment of highest tension. Resolution concludes the crisis either positively or negatively. Plots can follow a linear or circular structure.

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    The document discusses various elements of plot structure including exposition, conflict, climax, and resolution. Exposition introduces characters and setting. Conflict builds tension and can be internal or external. The climax is the decisive moment of highest tension. Resolution concludes the crisis either positively or negatively. Plots can follow a linear or circular structure.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    274 views109 pages

    Plot Structure

    Uploaded by

    Marilo Costa
    The document discusses various elements of plot structure including exposition, conflict, climax, and resolution. Exposition introduces characters and setting. Conflict builds tension and can be internal or external. The climax is the decisive moment of highest tension. Resolution concludes the crisis either positively or negatively. Plots can follow a linear or circular structure.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    You are on page 1of 109

    Plot Structures

    Plot Diagram
    Climax

    Conict

    Resolution

    Exposition

    Exposition

    Exposition
    First part of the plot

    Exposition
    First part of the plot Introduces the characters

    Exposition
    First part of the plot Introduces the characters Provides the setting

    Exposition
    First part of the plot Introduces the characters Provides the setting Gives the necessary background for the action

    Flashback
    Text goes back in time chronologically to give us some exposition, then returns to the more advanced point.

    ACTION

    Flashback

    ACTION

    Flashback

    ACTION

    Flashback

    ACTION

    Flashback

    ACTION
    Return to previous point in the action

    Foreshadowing
    In a sense, all exposition is foreshadowing

    Foreshadowing

    Plot

    Foreshadowing

    Plot
    Clue

    Foreshadowing
    Future Event

    Plot
    Clue

    Foreshadowing
    Future Event

    Plot
    Clue

    Foreshadowing
    Future Event

    Plot
    Clue

    Foreshadowing
    Future Event

    Plot
    Creates anticipation

    Clue

    Exposition

    Exposition
    Place in which the action occurs

    Exposition
    Place in which the action occurs Doesn't have to be a real place

    Exposition
    Place in which the action occurs Doesn't have to be a real place If it is a magical, fantastic place, we need to know the ground rules that govern this place

    Place

    Place
    Real

    Place
    Real Imaginary

    Place
    Real Imaginary Urban

    Place
    Real Imaginary Urban Rural

    Place
    Real Imaginary Urban Rural Closed

    Place
    Real Imaginary Urban Rural Closed Open

    Closed Space

    Closed Space
    Popular in mystery stories

    Closed Space
    Popular in mystery stories All of the characters (suspects) are stuck together in a place that is somehow isolated from the rest of the world

    Expostion

    Expostion
    Time

    Expostion
    Time Present

    Expostion
    Time Present Past

    Expostion
    Time Present Past Future

    Expostion
    Time Present Past Future Fable time ("Once upon a time")

    Expostion
    Time Present Past Future Fable time ("Once upon a time") Outside of human history

    Introduce main characters


    Especially the protagonist

    Establish sympathy or identication with the protagonist

    Establish sympathy or identication with the protagonist


    The reader has to care about this person and what happens to him/her, or s/he won't continue reading.

    Exposition

    Exposition
    Beginning of the action

    Exposition
    Beginning of the action What is the protagonist's relationship to his/her environment?

    Exposition
    Beginning of the action What is the protagonist's relationship to his/her environment? What is the protagonist's normal situation?

    Exposition
    Beginning of the action What is the protagonist's relationship to his/her environment? What is the protagonist's normal situation? At what point in the protagonist's life does the action begin?

    In media res

    In media res

    Begin in the middle of the action

    Conict
    Complication

    Conict

    Conict
    Important moment in the action

    Conict
    Important moment in the action Tension starts to build

    Conict
    Important moment in the action Tension starts to build The tension will continue to build until we reach the climax

    Conict

    Conict
    Internal (the protagonist struggles with some aspect of him/herself)

    Conict
    Internal (the protagonist struggles with some aspect of him/herself) External (the protagonist struggles with outside forces)

    EXTERNAL CONFLICT

    EXTERNAL CONFLICT

    Enemy of the group

    EXTERNAL CONFLICT

    Personal enemy

    Enemy of the group

    EXTERNAL CONFLICT

    Personal enemy

    Enemy of the group

    Society as a whole

    Internal Conict
    Physical or Mental Limitation

    Internal Conict
    Physical or Mental Limitation My Le! Foot

    Internal Conict
    Physical or Mental Limitation A Beautiful Mind My Le! Foot

    Internal Conict
    Physical or Mental Limitation A Beautiful Mind My Le! Foot

    Shine

    Internal Conict
    Physical or Mental Limitation A Beautiful Mind Helen Keller Shine My Le! Foot

    Internal Conict
    Character Flaw

    Internal Conict
    Character Flaw

    Pathologically shy

    Internal Conict
    Character Flaw

    Pathologically shy

    Selsh, greedy

    Internal Conict
    Character Flaw

    Pathologically shy

    Selsh, greedy

    Unable to love, uncaring

    Internal Conict
    Workaholic Character Flaw

    Pathologically shy

    Selsh, greedy

    Unable to love, uncaring

    Internal Conict
    Workaholic Character Flaw

    Pathologically shy

    Selsh, greedy

    Unable to love, uncaring

    Alcoholic or drug addict

    Internal Conict
    Workaholic Character Flaw Racist or sexist

    Pathologically shy

    Selsh, greedy

    Unable to love, uncaring

    Alcoholic or drug addict

    Internal Conict
    Workaholic Character Flaw Racist or sexist

    Irresponsible or supercial

    Pathologically shy

    Selsh, greedy

    Unable to love, uncaring

    Alcoholic or drug addict

    Internal Conict
    Can be a moral conict (a struggle with one's own conscience)

    Cinderella

    Stepmother

    Cinderella

    Stepmother

    Stepsisters

    Cinderella

    Stepmother

    Stepsisters

    Poverty

    Cinderella

    The Grinch
    Internal Conict

    My heart is too small.

    The Grinch
    Internal Conict

    I have to learn to care about others and enjoy life.

    My heart is too small.

    The Grinch
    Internal Conict

    Climax
    The moment of truth

    Climax

    Climax
    The decisive moment in the conict

    Climax
    The decisive moment in the conict The protagonist faces his/her biggest challenge

    Climax
    The decisive moment in the conict The protagonist faces his/her biggest challenge In sports lms, this is the moment of the big match

    Resolution
    Denouement

    Resolution

    Resolution
    How is the crisis resolved?

    Resolution
    How is the crisis resolved? Tragedy > Ends on a negative note

    Resolution
    How is the crisis resolved? Tragedy > Ends on a negative note Protagonist is defeated

    Resolution
    How is the crisis resolved? Tragedy > Ends on a negative note Protagonist is defeated There is a death

    Resolution
    How is the crisis resolved? Tragedy > Ends on a negative note Protagonist is defeated There is a death Major loss

    Resolution
    How is the crisis resolved? Tragedy > Ends on a negative note Protagonist is defeated There is a death Major loss Comedy > The ending is positive

    LINEAR PLOT STRUCTURE

    CIRCULAR PLOT STRUCTURE

    CIRCULAR PLOT STRUCTURE

    Beginning

    CIRCULAR PLOT STRUCTURE

    Beginning

    CIRCULAR PLOT STRUCTURE

    Beginning

    CIRCULAR PLOT STRUCTURE

    Beginning

    CIRCULAR PLOT STRUCTURE

    Beginning

    CIRCULAR PLOT STRUCTURE

    Beginning End

    Open Ending

    Open Ending
    Does not give us the resolution

    Open Ending
    Does not give us the resolution The reader has to decide the ending

    Open Ending
    Does not give us the resolution The reader has to decide the ending The lady or the tiger?

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