Plot - the Sequence of Incidents Or Events Which Comprise the Story

PLOT TERMS

Plot - the sequence of incidents or events which comprise the story.

1. Introduction/ Antecedent action – the beginning of a piece of literature when the characters, setting, and situation are introduced.

2. Inciting force/ Complicating incident – the person or incident which begins the whole conflict. There is no problem yet…but thanks to this, there will be one soon.

3. Conflict – It is the struggle which the protagonist must attempt to overcome. It may be physical, psychological, emotional, or moral and involve a clash of action, ideas, desires, or wills. Conflict may be singular or multiple. Attempt to identify in this order.

Internal: a. the character must make an agonizing decision

External: a. person vs. person – both are aware of conflict

b. person vs. nature – weather, animal, landform

c. person vs. society – when neither of the above two, could be a conflict to “make a mark in the world”, or change society.

4. Complicating Incidents – the series of incidents in which the protagonist unsuccessfully attempts to solve his or her conflict.

5. Crisis – something happens that guarantees the problem will be over soon.

6. Climax – the problem is over! It may be good or bad for the protagonist, he or she may now have another problem; nonetheless, the major conflict is over.

7. Rising action – from the introduction to the climax

8. Resolution – details about how the conflict is resolved during the climax..

9. Denouement - the final solution to the mystery; the explanation or outcome. It involves not only a satisfactory outcome of the main situation, but also an explanation of all the secrets and misunderstandings connected with the plot complication.

10. Endings:

·  Happy endings: the protagonist is able to solve his problems and overcome his antagonist.

·  Unhappy endings: the protagonist fails to overcome the conflict or her character is destroyed; however she probably changes in some aspect of her character. This ending is the most realistic and true to life.

·  Surprise ending: the totally unexpected occurs but the ends are tied up.

·  Indeterminate ending: story ends before the climax.

11. Falling action – from the climax to the ending.