Plot and Setting

1. Plot and Setting

2. Define plot. • is a series of related events, like links in a chain

3. Describe conflict. • A struggle or dispute • having opposing views or actions • i.e. buying a soda and vending machine not providing the soda

4. Explain external conflict. • Struggle that takes place between 2 characters (Batman vs. Joker), between a character and a group (teen vs. gang members), or between a character and something nonhuman (victim vs. racism, girl vs. soda machine).

5. Explain internal conflict. • takes place within a character’s mind or heart (character vs. himself) • i.e. A girl’s desire to buy soda to quench her thirst conflicts with her guilt of breaking her sugarless diet.

6. Ticket out the Door • Name an example of an external conflict and internal conflict from a movie. • In the movie/story titled, ___(italicize or underline title)_____, the external conflict is between ______ and _______ because __________ whereas the internal conflict is between _____ and _______ due to ______________.

7. What does a plot diagram consist of? • A plot diagram consists of four major parts. 3. 2. 4. 1.

8. What is the basic situation/exposition? • The opening of the story, when the characters, setting, and conflict are introduced. • i.e.-Box 1 Girl wants to quench her thirst by going to the vending machine in the quad after school.

9. Examine the complication(s). • The main character takes some action to resolve the conflict but is met with more problems or complications, danger, or a new threatening situation • i.e. Box 2 Girl vs. Machine: The machine takes her money without giving her soda.

10. How do you know when the climax occurs? • Key scene in the story—tense, exciting or terrifying moment when our emotional involvement is greatest. • Learn what the outcome of the conflict is going to be (i.e. turning point) • i.e. Box 3 Girl knocks on machine and soda drops.

11. Describe the resolution. • Occurs at the end of the story • All struggles are over, and we know what is going to happen to the characters. • i.e. Box 4 Girl happily retrieves soda.

12. Plot and Setting: It’s all in the Timing

13. What is chronological order? • The order in which events unfold in real time.

14. When does flashback occur? • Writers interrupt the flow of events to present an episode from the past. • Ex: Oprah interviews Will Smith and plays a clip back to Fresh Prince of Bel Air from his past.

15. How can thewriteruse flash-forward? • Instead of going back to the past, writers can jump ahead to the future by using flash-forward. • i.e. a young girl is dreaming about her wedding day, flash-forward to the future and the character is walking down the aisle

16. How can the reader identify foreshadowing? • Writer brings the future into the present by using foreshadowing • Hint at what will happen next or later • i.e. in a scary movie it becomes dark and music speeds up in tempo (foreshadows something “bad” is about to happen)

17. Setting

18. What is setting? • It tells the readers where and when a story takes place. • Guess the setting below:

19. Define mood • The atmosphere that affects the way readers feel • Guess what the mood is below: • "I shivered as I walked through the dim hallway.  The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end and I hurried my pace to get away from the frowning portraits gazing down at me."  • Mood is filled with anxiety or frightening

20. Define tone • Writer’s attitude toward a subject or character • Guess the tone the writer uses below: I may not be getting an A in Ms. Tran’s English class right now, but I’m sure I will get an A by the end of the quarter. The tone is optimistic.

21. TOD (back side) • Rate yourself on how well you understand today’s content.