Plot

Short Stories

Plot

• Plot:– Sequence of events in a literary work.– Consists of exposition, complication,

rising action, intensification, climax, falling action, and resolution.

• Involves both characters and a central conflict.

Parts of Plot

• Exposition: – The part of the plot that introduces the

characters, the setting, and the basic situation.

• The Exposition is your “background information.”

ExpositionB.

C

D

E

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G

Parts of Plot

• Complication:– Part of the plot directly following exposition– Central conflict is introduced

• The Complication is the first time we hear of the major conflict that must be resolved.

A

ComplicationC

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E

F

G

Parts of Plot

• Rising Action:– All events leading up to the climax

• The Rising Action can be made of just a few events or can be made of hundreds of events

A

B

Rising ActionD

E

F

G

Parts of Plot

• Intensification:– Specific actions/conflicts that help move the

story to a high level of suspense.• The Intensification is prior to the climax

A

B

C

Intensification

E

F

G

Parts of Plot

• Climax: – The high point of interest or suspense.

• The Climax is the result of the complication, rising action, and intensification.

• The Climax leads to the falling action and resolution.

A

C

B

D

Climax

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Parts of the Plot

• Falling Action: – Events leading to the resolution of the central

conflict.• The Falling Action can contain many events, or it

can contain just one event.

A

B

C

D

E

Falling Action

G

Parts of Plot

• Resolution: – The end of the central conflict.

• The Resolution does not have to be the end of the story.

• FYI: Events after the resolution are called the denouement.

A

B

C

D

E

F

Resolution

Plot of Forrest Gump

• Exposition:– The very beginning of

the movie– Forrest is sitting on the

park bench…– “If I think real hard,

maybe I can remember my first pair of shoes…”

Plot of Forrest Gump

• Complication:– Meeting Jenny on the

bus to school.– “Can’t sit here…”

Plot of Forrest Gump

• Rising Action:– Jenny and Forrest

become the best of friends.

– Forrest goes away to college

– Forrest goes to war

Plot of Forrest Gump

• Intensification:– Forrest runs into

Jenny at the anti-war demonstration.

Plot of Forrest Gump

• Climax:– Jenny comes home– “We were like peas

and carrots again.”

Plot of Forrest Gump

• Falling Action:– Jenny leaves again– Forrest runs across

the country– Jenny and Forrest

reunite– Jenny and Forrest

marry

Plot of Forrest Gump

• Resolution:– Jenny dies