PlotPlot

Unit 1: FictionUnit 1: Fiction

<skip intro>

Fiction is like a spider’s web, attached ever so lightly perhaps, but still attached to life at all four corners.

—Virginia Woolf

What is fiction?

• Fiction is a genre, or category of literary composition, that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story.

What are the two main forms of fiction?

• The two main forms of fiction are the short story and the novel.

What are your favorite types of fiction?

• Realistic fiction• Mystery• Science fiction• Romance• Historical fiction• Horror• Fantasy• Sports fiction

What are the purposes of fiction?

• To entertain readers

• To enlighten readers by sharing the human experience

• To provide readers with an escape from reality

• To teach readers empathy

• To help readers explore unknown worlds

What are the five elements of fiction?

• Plot

• Point of view

• Characters

• Setting

• Theme

Plot

• Plot is a series of related events that drive a story.

What do you think makes a plot interesting and memorable?

A story to me means a plot where there is some surprise. Because that is how life is—full of surprises.

—Isaac Bashevis Singer

A story to me means a plot where there is some surprise. Because that is how life is—full of surprises.

—Isaac Bashevis Singer

Climax

ResolutionExposition

Climax

ResolutionExposition

• A plot is the frame that gives a story its structure. There are five elements of plot:

• The exposition is the introduction to the plot.

• In the exposition– characters are introduced– setting is revealed– mood or tone is established

• In the rising action, the main character tries to solve a problem and encounters several obstacles along the way, resulting in a conflict.

• Conflict is what drives the plot.

• There are four types of conflict:– person versus person– person versus society– person versus nature– person versus self

• The climax, or turning point, is the high point of interest and suspense in the plot.

• The falling action consists of all the events that follow the climax

• These events include the results of the main character’s action or decision.

• The resolution, or conclusion, is the point at which the central conflict is ended, or resolved.

A story’s plot organization is often framed by time.

• Chronological order unfolds events in the order in which they occur.

• Flashback interrupts time sequence and presents an event that occurred earlier or in the past.

• Foreshadowing provides a hint or clue to events that will occur in the future or later in the story.

• A Time Line can help you understand a story’s plot organization. This Time Line is for “Thank You, M’am,” by Langston Hughes.

Mrs. Jones drags Roger

to her apartment.

Roger says he wanted the

money to buy blue suede

shoes.

Mrs. Jones cooks supper;

Roger does not try to escape.

Roger watches from the steps as Mrs. Jones shuts the

door.

Mrs. Jones is walking home when Roger tries to steal her purse.

Mrs. Jones walks Roger out; he is too

stunned to thank her.

Mrs. Jones and Roger eat

supper; she tells him

about her job.

Mrs. Jones gives Roger

ten dollars for the shoes.

To understand a story’s plot organization, make a Time Line of events for a fairy tale or folk tale.

• Converting a Time Line into a Plot Diagram can reveal which events fall into each part of a story’s plot.

ClimaxRisi

ng A

ction Falling Action

Exposition Resolution

Plot Plot DiagramDiagram

Mrs. Jones is walking home when Roger tries to steal her purse.

Roger watches from the steps as Mrs. Jones shuts the

door.

Mrs. Jones gives Roger

ten dollars for the shoes.

Mrs. Jones walks Roger out; he is too

stunned to thank her.

Mrs. Jones drags Roger

to her apartment.

Convert the Time Line you created for a fairy tale or folk tale into a Plot Diagram.

ClimaxRisi

ng A

ction Falling Action

Exposition Resolution

Plot Plot DiagramDiagram

SUMMARY: Plot

• A good plot must– advance the action– relate events in a logical, easy-to-follow order– engage the main character in some type of conflict– provide an element of surprise or suspense– provoke questions in the readers’ minds