Literary Elements Plot

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Literary ElementsPlot

• is a structure of events arising out of a
  conflict in a story (Plot).
• Rather than simply defining plot as the events in
  a story i.e. what happens Kennedy Gioia
  define plot as the artistic arrangement of
  those events (10).
• When writing about plot focus on the arrangement
  of events.

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Stages of a Plot Exposition Complication
Crisis Resolution/Dénouement

• Exposition the opening portion of a story which
  sets the scene introduces the main characters
  tells us what happened before the story opened
  and provides any other needed background
  information.
• Complication or conflict any story needs some
  sort of conflict. Here are the major types of
  conflict which can occur person vs.
  person person vs. society person vs.
  nature person vs. self

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• Crisis a moment of greatest tension the high
  point of crisis in a story when the outcome is
  to be decided.
• Resolution/Dénouement the outcome or conclusion
  literally dénouement means the untying of the
  knot an unraveling for an explanation or
  tying up of loose ends.
• _________________________________________________
• Rising and Falling Action
• The part of a structure before the crisis is
  called Rising Action while the part after the
  crisis is Falling Action.

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Freytags Pyramid

• German playwright Gustav Freytag drew a pyramid
  to illustrate the events of a dramatic plot
  Crisis
• Complication (Falling(Rising
  action)
  action)
• Resolution/Dénouement
• Exposition

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Plot Devices

• Events in a story are causally related -- that
  is one event causes the next which causes the
  next and so on to the end of the story.
• But some stories do not contain these parts in
  the same order. Or authors may use various plot
  devices to add interest or create complexity to
  the story or to advance the plot. The following
  pages show seven of these devices (Holman).

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Plot devices

• In medias res an author may begin the story in
  the middle of things in the middle of the
  story.
• Flashback an author may include a section in the
  story which interrupts the normal chronological
  flow of events to present an event from an
  earlier time

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more plot devices . . .

• Foreshadowing Clues given which hint about
  events that have not yet occurred
• Deus ex machina (Day-oose ex makina)God from
  the machine use of an unlikely or improbable
  event to make a story turn out right. In Greek
  theatre Gods intervened to right the plot.
  They were brought onto the stage by a machine --
  the stage works -- from above. (Deus ex
  machina).

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more plot devices . . .

• Subplot authors may include a secondary or
  subplot (underplot) which tells another story
  and provides interest and complexity to the main
  storys plot.
• Suspense the creation of a feeling of anxious
  uncertainty about the outcome of events
• Surprise Ending an unexpected event occurs at
  the end of the story. Sometimes when you analyze
  a storys plot you may discover a false climax
  and resolution leading to the surprise ending
  (when the real climax and resolution are
  revealed).

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Avoid Retelling the Story

• Although it is important to know what events
  occur in any story writing about literature
  requires only a minimal amount of retelling the
  plot. If you feel that readers need a review or
  basic information about the plot write a very
  brief sentence or two in the first paragraph
  which offers a general overview of the plot. Do
  not write an essay which simply retells what
  happens in a story.
• Be especially alert to this danger if you
  organize an essay in chronological order
  discussing one story event after another in the
  same narrative order the author has used..

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Writing About Plot

• If you really want to write about the plot focus
  your essay on the arrangement of the storys
  events i.e. what is important about the
  arrangement Is there some aspect of the order
  of events which is of interest How do the order
  or plot stages or devices (the storys structure)
  affect the way readers might interpret the story
  Is foreshadowing important Are flashbacks used
  Does the storys arrangement of events seem
  unusual In what way Is there a subplot Does
  the story begin in medias res Does the lack of a
  complete exposition create any effect Are prior
  events of great importance Does the author
  withhold important information and if so why
  to what end

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For more info
Read Literature and the Writing Process Chapter
5on structure.

• Works Cited

• Deus ex machina. A Handbook to Literature.
  Holman C. Hugh and William Harmon eds. New
  York MacMillan 1986.
• Kennedy X. J. and Dana Gioia eds. Literature
  An Introduction to Fiction Poetry and Drama.
  New York Longman 1999. 9-10.
• Plot. A Handbook to Literature. Holman C. Hugh
  and William Harmon eds. New York MacMillan
  1986.