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What Are the Structural Elements of Plot?

Wednesday, August 28, 13

Plot is the chain of related events that tells you what happens in a story.

Plot

EVENT 1

What do you think happens next?

EVENT 2

Jen challenges Rick to a bike race.

Bet I can ride Diamondback

Trail faster than you can!

Bet you can’t!

Jen and Rick meet on the trail.


How are the two events linked together?

Plot

EVENT 1 EVENT 2

Jen and Rick meet on the trail.


cause/effect

Like links in a chain, each event “hooks” our curiosity and pulls us forward to the next event.


Most plots are built on these structural elements:

Plot

basic situation

conflict

complications

climax

resolution


The basic situation is the part of the story in which you meet the main characters and find out what they want.

Plot

The main characters are Jen and Rick.

Jen wants to have a bike race with Rick.


The main character then faces a conflict.

Plot


Jen’s challenge presents a problem to Rick:

Should he try to impress Jen by accepting her challenge?

Should he avoid defeat or losing her friendship by choosing not to race?

OR


Plot

Conflicts in stories may include

forces of nature, such as gravity or strong head winds,

or a character’s own feelings.


What if we add more events to the chain?

Plot

EVENT 1 EVENT 2Jen and Rick meet on the

trail.


Event 3 has made the plot chain more complicated.

EVENT 3Rick’s bike

chain slips off.

The outcome of the race is no longer a matter of who can bike faster.


If Rick can’t repair his chain quickly, he will lose the race.

Plot

EVENT 3

Rick’s chain slips off.

If Jen rides off and leaves Rick stranded, she may win the race but lose Rick’s friendship.

Event 3 is called a complication because it makes the plot’s conflict more difficult to resolve.


Plot

EVENT 1 EVENT 2Jen and Rick

race.Jen challenges Rick

to a bike race.

EVENT 3? ? ? ? ? ?

What other complications might Rick or Jen face?

What would make the story interesting, exciting, or suspenseful?


Suddenly, Rick remembers what he learned from his Uncle Eduardo:

A story’s climax is the point at which the outcome of the conflict is decided—often in a surprising way.

Plot

Rick’s chain is off his bike.Jen is circling back to check on him.

1. how to replace a slipped chain2. how to impress a girl


Where does a story’s climax fit into the plot chain?

Plot

The story reaches its climax when the obstacles created by complications are overcome.The climax makes the ending possible.


The resolution is the end of the story. It tells how the conflict turned out.

Plot

How was the conflict in this story resolved?

Neither Jen nor Rick won the race, but . . .

they took many more bike rides together.

[End of Section]


Plot: Subplots

In addition to the main plot, some stories have subplots.

A subplot is a minor plot that is part of the larger story but not as important.

Main plot

Rick tries to impress Jen by

agreeing to a bike race.

Subplot

Rick thinks little of his uncle’s

advice—until Rick finds that he

really can use it.

[End of Section]


Some plots contain parallel episodes: repeated events in a story.

Plot: Parallel Episodes

Episode 1

Rick’s chain slips off.

Rick replaces the chain, and

the race continues.

Episode 2

Rick’s front tire goes flat.

Rick patches the tire, and

the race continues.

Episode 3

Jen’s brake cable snaps.

Rick invites Jen to his uncle’s

bike-repair shop.

[End of Section]


Where in the plot would this scene occur?

• exposition

• rising action

• climax

• resolution

Quick Check

Paul packed his last pair of jeans in his duffel bag and carried it out to the car. It was time to leave for college. His mom and dad—and Miranda—were waiting with sad smiles on their faces. Paul placed his lucky bottle cap in Miranda’s hand and climbed into the car after saying goodbye.

He was surprised to find a little box on the seat next to him. Inside it, on a cushion of cotton balls, was Miranda’s lucky letter charm—M for miracles.

[End of Section]

Plot


Where in the plot would this scene occur?

Quick Check

Paul packed his last pair of jeans in his duffel bag and carried it out to the car. It was time to leave for college. His mom and dad—and Miranda—were waiting with sad smiles on their faces. Paul placed his lucky bottle cap in Miranda’s hand and climbed into the car after saying goodbye.

He was surprised to find a little box on the seat next to him. Inside it, on a cushion of cotton balls, was Miranda’s lucky letter charm—M for miracles.

This scene would occur during the resolution. Paul and Miranda part as friends when he leaves for college.

Plot


Map out the structural elements of the plot of a story from a book, a TV show, or a movie with which you are familiar. Use a story map like the one at the right.

• Make note of any parallel episodes.

• If you can find subplots in your story, complete another chart just like this one.

Analyze Plot

Your Turn

Conflict (what keeps the characters from getting what they want):

Major Story Events:

1.

2.

3. (and so on)

Climax (how the conflicts are resolved):

Resolution:

Characters:

[End of Section]


The End


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