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Plot & Conflict

Plot & Conflict. “. “A story to me means a plot where there is some surprise. Because that is how life is - full of surprises.” -- Isaac Bashevis Singer.

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Plot & Conflict

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  1. Plot & Conflict “

  2. “A story to me means a plot where there is some surprise. Because that is how life is - full of surprises.” -- Isaac Bashevis Singer I. Plot – Arrangement of related events making a narrative (narrative = short story, novel, drama, or narrative poem) II. Parts of Plot A. Exposition/Basic Situation – Establishes setting, characters, primary conflict, tone(scene and circumstances) 1. Initiating/Inciting Incident – 1st significant action (sets plot in motion) B.Complication/Rising Action – Development; main character encounters more problems C.Climax/Turning Point – Greatest tension 1.Decisions/actions = inevitable outcome 2.Main character changes D.Falling Action – Plot unravels; conflicts ease E. Conclusion/Denouement – Problems resolve, SS closes (Comedy = resolution / Tragedy = catastrophe)

  3. Freytag’s Pyramid C D B E A German dramatist Gustav Freytag (1816-1895) broke down the elements that make up any story into five major parts. To visually explain plot , Freytag put the element of plot into a pyramid-like shape. Cinderella’s Plot?

  4. III. Conflict – No conflict means no story! A.Struggle between opposing forces (physical or emotional) B.Involves main character’s goals/desires being blocked(There can be more than one conflict.) 1. Internal Conflict – struggle within (vs. personal/moral dilemma) a. Man vs. Himself 2. External Conflict – struggle without (vs. person or thing) a. Man vs. Man b. Man vs. Animal/Nature c. Man vs. Society/Culture d. Man vs. Fate/Circumstances e. Man vs. Machine/Tech

  5. IV. Special Plot Techniques A. Nonlinear Narrative – events out of chronological order (also called disjointed or disrupted narrative; often used to mimic human memory) 1.Flashback – interrupts normal plot sequence to reveal past B. Foreshadowing – hints about future (movies use lighting & music) C.Surprise Ending – unexpected plot twist D. Suspense – State of uncertainty, curiosity, anxiety (i.e. flashbacks, foreshadowing, scene changes, withholding info) Short stories do not always follow a pattern. In fact, modern short stories only occasionally have an exposition. More typical is an abrupt beginning, with the story starting in the middle of the action (in medias res). Endings of short stories can also be abrupt , ambiguous, and without a moral or practical lesson. As with any art form, the exact characteristics of short story will vary by creator.

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