"You might say plot is the skeleton of a book, character development its flesh and blood, and style, its heart. Each part must make sense in terms of the whole. A good plot gives the story shape and structurally moves the action along."
--Elizabeth Gordon, editor-in-chief, Harper Junior Books

Plot Diagram

plot diagram

Plot Elements Defined

Exposition: background information a reader must understand in order to know what is going on in the story

Conflict: complication or problem the main character(s) must deal with; it gets the action moving

Rising Action: events (and more conflicts) that occur when the main character tackles the problem; level of excitement and suspense builds

Climax: the main character comes face to face with the problem; most exciting part of the story

Falling Action: things begin to get back to normal; life goes on (even if the problem isn't solved)

Denoument (Resolve): loose ends are tied off; allows reader to clearly understand what happened

 

 

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