I. What is Plot?

In a narrative or creative writing, a plot is the sequence of events that make up a story, whether it’s
told, written, filmed, or sung. The plot is the story, and more specifically, how the story develops, unfolds,
and moves in time. Plots are typically made up of five main elements:

1. Exposition:
At the beginning of the story, characters, setting, and the main conflict are typically introduced.
2. Rising Action:
The main character is in crisis and events leading up to facing the conflict begin to unfold. The
story becomes complicated.
3. Climax:
At the peak of the story, a major event occurs in which the main character faces a major enemy,
fear, challenge, or other sources of conflict. The most action, drama, change, and excitement
occurs here.
4. Falling Action:
The story begins to slow down and work towards its end, tying up loose ends.
5. Resolution/Denouement:
Also known as the denouement, the resolution is like a concluding paragraph that resolves any
remaining issues and ends the story.
Plots, also known as storylines, include the most significant events of the story and how the
characters and their problems change over time.

II. Examples of Plot

Here are a few very short stories with sample plots:

Example 1

Kaitlin wants to buy a puppy. She goes to the pound and begins looking through the cages for her
future pet. At the end of the hallway, she sees a small, sweet brown dog with a white spot on its nose. At that
instant, she knows she wants to adopt him. After he receives shots and a medical check, she and the dog,
Berkley, go home together.

In this example, the exposition introduces us to Kaitlin and her conflict. She wants a puppy but does
not have one. The rising action occurs as she enters the pound and begins looking. The climax is when she
sees the dog of her dreams and decides to adopt him. The falling action consists of a quick medical check
before the resolution, or ending, when Kaitlin and Berkley happily head home.

Example 2

Scott wants to be on the football team, but he’s worried he won’t make the team. He spends weeks
working out as hard as possible, preparing for try outs. At try outs, he amazes coaches with his skill as a
quarterback. They ask him to be their starting quarterback that year and give him a jersey. Scott leaves the
field, ecstatic!

The exposition introduces Scott and his conflict: he wants to be on the team but he doubts his ability
to make it. The rising action consists of his training and tryout; the climax occurs when the coaches tell him
he’s been chosen to be quarterback. The falling action is when Scott takes a jersey and the resolution is he
leaving the try-outs as a new, happy quarterback.
Each of these stories has

 an exposition as characters and conflicts are introduced

 a rising action which brings the character to the climax as conflicts are developed and faced, and
 a falling action and resolution as the story concludes.

III. Types of Plot

There are many types of plot! Here are some classic plots that can be seen in numerous stories all
over the world and throughout history.

a. Overcoming the Monster:

The protagonist must defeat a monster or force in order to save some people – usually
everybody! Most often, the protagonist is forced into this conflict, and comes out of it as a hero, or even a
king.

Examples: “Beowulf”, “ Harry Potter”, “The Progress”, and “Star Wars”

b. Rags to Riches:
This story can begin with the protagonist being poor or rich, but at some point, the protagonist will
have everything, lose everything, and then gain it all back by the end of the story, after experiencing
great personal growth.

Examples: “The Count of Monte Cristo”, “Cinderella”, and “Jane Eyre”

c. The Quest:
The protagonist embarks on a quest involving travel and dangerous adventures in order to find
treasure or solve a huge problem. Usually, the protagonist is forced to begin the quest but makes friends that
help face the many tests and obstacles along the way.

Examples: “The Iliad”, “ The Lord of the Rings”, and “Eragon”

d. Voyage and Return:

The protagonist goes on a journey to a strange or unknown place, facing danger and adventures
along the way, returning home with experience and understanding.

Examples: “Alice in Wonderland”, “The Chronicles of Narnia”, and “The Wizard of Oz”

e. Comedy:
A happy and fun character finds a happy ending after triumphing over difficulties and adversities.

Examples: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “Fantastic Mr. Fox”, and “Home Alone”
f. Tragedy:
The protagonist experiences a conflict which leads to very bad ending, typically death.

Examples: “Romeo and Juliet”, “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, and “Macbeth”

g. Rebirth:
The protagonist is a villain who becomes a good person through the experience of the story’s
conflict.

Examples: “Secret Garden”, “A Christmas Carol”, and “The Grinch”

As these seven examples show, many stories follow a common pattern. In fact, there are only a few
basic patterns which are mixed and combined to form all stories.

IV. The Importance of Using Plot

The plot is what makes a story a story. It gives the story character development, suspense, energy,
and emotional release (also known as ‘catharsis’). It allows an author to develop themes and most
importantly, conflict that makes a story emotionally engaging; everybody knows how hard it is to stop
watching a movie before the conflict is resolved.

NOTES:
A plot is the sequence of events that make up a story. It gives the story character development,
suspense, energy, and emotional release. Through its many types, a plot shows how a story develops,
unfolds, and moves in time. It allows an author to develop themes and most importantly, conflict that makes
a story emotionally engaging. A plot, also known as a storyline, includes the most significant events of a
story and how characters and their problems change over time.
For example, the story of Cinderella, where the protagonist undergoes a change from rags to riches,
has a proper introduction, a setting of place and time, characters that take the story forward, a series of
events, a conflict between the protagonist and her antagonists, a climax where the prince retrieves the
protagonist and resolution when Cinderella marries the prince.