Plot is the series of events in a story where the main conflict (problem) in the story is resolved.

What is Plot?

Pyramid Plot Structure

The most basic and traditional form of plot is pyramid-shaped.

Plot Components

Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts

Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax

Climax: the turning point of the story. The reader wonders what will happen next… will the conflict be resolved or not?

Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

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Inciting Event: The event in the story that begins the conflict

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Falling Action: shows the result of the climax, and its effects on the characters. Conflict be-gins to resolve itself. The reader knows what “happened next.”

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Plot of CinderellaExposition: Cinderella lives unhappily with her stepmother and two stepsisters; an invitation to a ball at the palace arrives. Inciting Event:An invitation to the Palace ball arrives.Rising Action: The stepsisters prepare to go to the ball; a fairy godmother appears and sends Cinderella, too. She dances with the prince until midnight and runs away, losing her slipper. The prince finds the slipper and vows to marry the woman whom it fits. Climax: The prince visits the home of Cinderella. The two stepsisters try to wear the slipper, but Cinderella is revealed to be the owner. Falling Action: Cinderella and the prince pre-pare to marry. Resolution: They live happily ever after.

Conflict Conflict is the problem in the

story. Without conflict, there is no plot because the plot is the characters trying to solve the problem.

Types of Conflict

Human vs Nature

Human vs Society

Human vs Self

Human vs Human

Types of Conflicts• Character vs. Self— the main character has a problem with

him/herself, also called “internal conflict.” An example of this would be a character trying to decide what’s right or wrong, like in the movie Aladdin, when Aladdin has to decide whether or not to tell Princess Jasmine the truth about himself.

• Character vs. Character— the main character has a problem with another character. Superhero stories are very good examples of Character vs. Character.

• Character vs. Society— the main character or main group of characters has a Uglies by Scott Westerfeld or City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau.

• Character vs. Nature— the main character has a problem with nature. Survival stories like Hatchet by Gary Paulsen are examples.