PLOTLiterary Elements of Narrative Text

Type

PLOT The series of related events that make

up a work of fiction. Plot is what happens in a short story, novel, play or narrative poem.

exposition

Rising action

climax

Falling action

resolution

Plot line: the graph that plots out the events and actions that occur throughout the story. It is a “picture of the story in sequential order.

EXPOSITION The introduction The part of plot in which the major

characters, setting, and basic situation are introduced.

The first part of the plot line.

INCITING INCIDENT “incite”: to encourage or prompt into

action The event that sparks the action of the

plot. This is the event that moves the story

from the exposition into the rising action.

Inciting incident

RISING ACTION The part of the plot line that presents

situations that move the plot along until it reaches the climax.

The characters take steps to resolve the conflicts.

COMPLICATION The part of the plot in which the conflict,

problem, or struggle between opposing sides is made known to the reader.

Complications arise when the characters take steps to resolve the conflict.

Complications make up the rising action of the story.

CLIMAX The part of the plot which is the turning

point or most important event in the story.

The outcome is decided one way or another.

The situation is never the same for the protagonist after the climax.

FALLING ACTION The situations in the plot that happen

after the climax. Usually, the major conflict is solved in

some way, so the remaining events serve to bring the story to a close.

RESOLUTION The conflict is resolved and the story is

brought to a close.

PARALLEL EPISODES These are repeated elements of the

plot. Each time an event is repeated in the

story it is labeled a parallel episode. In “Those Three Wishes” a wish is made

three times with the same result which makes those episodes parallel.

SUBPLOT A minor plot that relates in some way to

the main plot.

THEME The general idea or insight about life

that a work of literature reveals. The theme is the idea or message that

the writer wishes to convey about a certain subject such as friendship, life experiences, love, or human suffering.

Example: Innocent people often suffer in times of conflict.

UNIVERSAL THEME Recurring themes that will appear in

works from different cultures and across time periods.

Example: Good will triumph over evil.

SETTING The time, place, and environment of the

action of the story. It may play an important role in the plot,

especially in stories or novels involving a conflict between a character and nature.

MOOD The overall feeling or atmosphere of a

work of literature. The mood can often be described in one

or two adjectives (ex. Scary, sad, happy, nostalgic).

The writer produces mood by the use of descriptive words, setting, images, and specific details.

SUSPENSE The uncertainty or anxiety that a reader

feels about what will happen next in a story, novel, or drama.

FORESHADOW An author’s use of hints or clues to

suggest events that will occur later in the story.

Often used to build suspense and keep readers interest by preparing readers for the events that will follow.

For example: The author may tell us that the story is taking place on island with a bad reputation. This may foreshadow that something dangerous may happen.

FLASHBACK

Interruption in the present action of a plot to show events that happened at an earlier time.

It breaks normal forward movement of a narrative.

Example: In The Outsiders, Ponyboy goes back in time to relive the day the gang found Johnny in the vacant lot after the Soc beating.

CHARACTER TERMS

A guide to key narrative terms

CHARACTER An imaginary personality created by an

author. The character may be a human or an animal

Ponyboy Curtis

Rikki-tikki-tavi

TYPES OF CHARACTERS Protagonist: the main character who

faces a problem and in his/her attempt to solve it, becomes involved in a conflict with an opposing force.

Antagonist: The person, force, or idea that opposes the main character who is the protagonist

TYPES OF CHARACTERS Dynamic character: a character who

changes as a result of his/her experiences within the work.

Static character: a character who remains the same throughout the course of the conflict.

CHARACTERIZATION The process by which the author reveals

the personality of the character. Characterization can be done directly or

indirectly.

CHARACTERIZATION (DIRECT) Direct characterization: a writer simply

tells the reader the character’s personality.

Example: Rikki-tikki was a brave mongoose.

CHARACTERIZATION (INDIRECT) Indirect characterization: a writer

reveals the character’s personality without directly telling the reader.

The reader must infer the character’s traits based on what is told to us about the character.

FIVE METHODS OF INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION The author reveals character through

the following ways:1.) through words of the character2.) through description of the character’s

looks and clothing3.) through description of the character’s

thoughts and feelings4.) through comments made about the

character by other characters in the story5.) through the character’s behavior

CHARACTER’S MOTIVATION The motivation of a character is any

force that drives the character to behave in a particular way (such as love or fear or jealousy).

CONFLICT A struggle between opposing characters

or forces. A character can face an internal conflict

or an external conflict.

CONFLICT Internal conflicts: the conflict takes

place within a character’s own mind. It is a struggle between opposing needs,

desires or emotions. These conflicts are referred to as man

vs. self

CONFLICT External conflicts: struggles with an

outside force. These conflicts are referred to as…

man vs. man man vs. nature man vs. society