Plot


Reading Fiction – Plot

 

 

The sequence of events in a story is called the story’s plot. The plot is like a blueprint of what happens, when it happens, and to whom it happens. Plots are almost always built around conflicts – problems or struggles between opposing forces. Although plots differ, a plot usually includes the four stages of development described below.

 

 

1)    Exposition

2)    Rising Action

3)    Climax

4)    Falling Action

 

 

Worksheet

 

 

Exposition:

Briefly describe the characters and setting at the beginning:

 

 

Any background information given about the people/place?

 

 

 

Rising Action:

What complications exist for which characters?

 

 

Where does conflict come from in the story? Another person? A group? A belief? Society in general?

 

 

 

Climax:

No further major conflicts should exist after the climax of a story. Briefly summarize the action where it seems the conflict “comes to a head” in this story:

 

 

 

Falling Action:

Briefly describe what happens after the climax:

 

 

Are mysteries solved? “Loose ends tied?” Explain:

 

Information from "The Language of Literature" published by McDougal Littell, A Houghton Mifflin Company, Evanston, Illinois. 2000.