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Plotstructure

Plot is the structure of a story, showing the causal arrangement of events. There are different types of linear plots like chronological order or starting in the middle of the action. The most basic plot structure is pyramid-shaped, as described by Aristotle and Freytag. Aristotle's structure had three parts - beginning, middle, end. Freytag modified this to a five-part structure with rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Freytag's pyramid is often extended slightly before and after the main rising and falling action. Conflict is the dramatic struggle that drives the plot forward.

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68 views

Plotstructure

Plot is the structure of a story, showing the causal arrangement of events. There are different types of linear plots like chronological order or starting in the middle of the action. The most basic plot structure is pyramid-shaped, as described by Aristotle and Freytag. Aristotle's structure had three parts - beginning, middle, end. Freytag modified this to a five-part structure with rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Freytag's pyramid is often extended slightly before and after the main rising and falling action. Conflict is the dramatic struggle that drives the plot forward.

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© © All Rights Reserved
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Teaching Plot Structure

Through Short Stories

Plot is the literary element that describes the


structure of a story. It shows the a causal
arrangement of events and actions within a story.

Types of Linear Plots


Plots can be told in

Chronological order

Flashback
In media res (in the middle of things)
when the story starts in the middle of the
action without exposition

Pyramid Plot Structure


The most basic and
traditional form of
plot is pyramidshaped.
This structure has
been described in
more detail by
Aristotle and by
Gustav Freytag.

Aristotles Unified Plot

The basic triangle-shaped plot structure was


described by Aristotle in 350 BCE. Aristotle used
the beginning, middle, and end structure to
describe a story that moved along a linear path,
following a chain of cause and effect as it works
toward the solution of a conflict or crisis.

Freytags Plot Structure

Freytag modified Aristotles system by adding a


rising action (or complication) and a falling action
to the structure. Freytag used the five-part design
shown above to describe a storys plot.

Modified Plot Structure

Freytags Pyramid is often modified so that it


extends slightly before and after the primary
rising and falling action. You might think of this
part of the chart as similar to the warm-up and
cool-down for the story.

Plot Components
Climax: the turning point, the
most intense momenteither
mentally or in action

Rising Action: the series of


conflicts and crisis in the story
that lead to the climax

Falling Action: all of the


action which follows the
climax

Exposition: the start of the


story, the situation before the
action starts

Resolution: the conclusion,


the tying together of all of
the threads

Conflict
Conflict is the dramatic struggle
between two forces in a story.
Without conflict, there is no
plot.

Types of Conflict
Interpersonal Conflict
Human vs Human
Human vs Nature

Human vs Society
Internal Conflict
Human vs Self

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