Literary Plot

Literary Plot

Literary plot is the sequence of events in a literary work: its the beginning, middle, and end of a story. Writers all tend to create stories with the same basic plot, or formula. There are variances of course, but in general, stories are told chronologically (time order), and we get to know the characters and setting up front, before we get into the action of the story. We have names for these steps in a story. It helps to know these names and steps as we analyze stories, and as we also write our own narratives.

Elements of Plot

Here are the basic steps, or elements of plot:

Beginning

• Exposition

• Conflict

Middle

• Rising Action

• Climax

End

• Falling Action

• Resolution

Definitions of the Elements of Plot

1. Exposition: (who, setting, and main conflict) an author’s introduction of the characters, setting, and situation at the beginning of a story, novel, or play.

2. Rising Action: (conflict complications) the part of a drama, which begins with the exposition and sets the stage for the climax.

3. Climax: (height of conflict) turning point in the story. Determines the outcome of the conflict.

4. Falling Action: (conflict begins to get resolved) the falling action is the series of Events that take place after the climax showing the results of the conflict.

5. Resolution: (conflict is solved) the part of a story or drama which occurs after the climax and which establishes a new norm, a new state of affairs-the way things are going to be from then on.

Narrative Arc and Freytag's Pyramid

I think it helps to see a visual of the elements of plot to see the flow of a story. The visual that goes with the elements of plot is sometimes called the "narrative arc," and sometimes called "Freytag's Pyramid." Either way, its the mountain looking shape that stories tend to follow--with the most exciting part and turning point of the story being the climax at the top of the mountain.

What is Freytag’s Pyramid? Devised by 19th century German playwright Gustav Freytag, Freytag’s Pyramid is a paradigm of dramatic structure outlining the seven key steps in successful storytelling: exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, and denouement.