Elements of a Story

THE STRUCTURE OF THE PLOT

It is a “plan” that is used to organize the events in a

story.

Story Structure

DEFINITION

The plot is the sequence of events that make up the story.

It is the beginning,

the middle, and the end of the story.

A plot develops like a roller coaster ride.

Exposition This is usually

called the introduction

The author introduces: Setting Characters Basic conflict

INCITING INCIDENT

• This is the event that starts the problem in the story.

• In a ball game, this would happen when the first pitch is thrown out.

• In the story “Duffy’s Jacket,” the families arrive at the cabin.

• In the story “Priscilla and the Wimps,” one of Klutter’s Kobras asks Melvin for a pass.

Rising Action There are more

problems and complications in the story.

In the story “Duffy’s Jacket,” think about everything that happens after the moms leave the house.

Sometimes, we say, “The plot thickens.”

Climax This is the point of

greatest suspense and highest interest.

Sometimes it is the “turning point” in the story.

In some books or TV shows, this is the “cliffhanger” that ends the story.

CLIMAX

The climax is the event in the story that the author has been “building up to.”

It is like the grand finale at a fireworks show.

Like the grand finale, the climax is near the end of the story.

Falling Action

This part tells all of the action that occurs after the climax.

It leads up to the ending of a story.

Resolution This is the final

part of the story

How is the conflict resolved?

The conflict ends BUT the problem is NOT always settled.

In “Duffy’s Jacket,” Duffy’s jacket is returned, and he stops forgetting his things.

BUT We still don’t know

who returned the jacket.

DIAGRAM OF PLOT STRUCTURE

PLOT STRUCTURE ROLLER COASTER

Elements of a Story