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Unit 2:Unit 2:Epic StoriesEpic Stories

Notes on PlotNotes on Plot

The sequence of events in The sequence of events in a story.a story. Chronological OrderChronological Order: events : events

happen in real time.happen in real time. Stream of ConsciousnessStream of Consciousness: :

events happen as the events happen as the characters think about them.characters think about them.

PlotPlot

ConflictConflict is the main struggle in a is the main struggle in a story.story. External ConflictExternal Conflict is a struggle between is a struggle between

one character and some other, outside one character and some other, outside force like other people or the force like other people or the environment.environment.

Internal ConflictInternal Conflict is a struggle that takes is a struggle that takes place within a character’s own heart and place within a character’s own heart and mind.mind.

ConflictConflict

The opening of a story The opening of a story where the characters where the characters and their conflict(s) are and their conflict(s) are introduced.introduced.

Sometimes called the Sometimes called the “exposition.”“exposition.”

Basic SituationBasic Situation

A hurdle or barrier that A hurdle or barrier that increases the danger, increases the danger, tension, or difficulty tension, or difficulty faced by the characters faced by the characters when trying to resolve when trying to resolve the conflict.the conflict.

ComplicationComplication

The key scene in a The key scene in a story. This is story. This is sometimes called the sometimes called the “turning” point.“turning” point.

The climax is where The climax is where the conflict is resolved.the conflict is resolved.

ClimaxClimax

Resolution is the end of Resolution is the end of the story. The reader the story. The reader knows how the knows how the characters will turn out.characters will turn out.

Resolution is sometimes Resolution is sometimes called, “denouement” called, “denouement” ..

ResolutionResolution

Going back in time Going back in time in the story to get in the story to get some background some background on the characters on the characters and conflicts.and conflicts.

FlashbackFlashback

Going into the Going into the future to get future to get background on background on characters or characters or conflicts.conflicts.

FlashforwardFlashforward

Hints in a Hints in a story about story about future events.future events.

ForeshadowingForeshadowing

This can occur when characters This can occur when characters start out together and then start out together and then separate to pursue their own separate to pursue their own storylines. They may meet up storylines. They may meet up again at a later point.again at a later point.

This can also occur when This can also occur when characters start in separate characters start in separate storylines then converge later in storylines then converge later in the story. the story.

Parallel PlotParallel Plot

The feeling the The feeling the reader gets as reader gets as he or she he or she reads the text.reads the text.

MoodMood

The author or The author or speaker’s attitude speaker’s attitude toward the toward the subject matter.subject matter.

ToneTone

The tug and pull The tug and pull between what a reader between what a reader wants or hopes will wants or hopes will happen in a story and happen in a story and what actually does what actually does happen in a story.happen in a story.

Tension/Tension/SuspenseSuspense

The insight into The insight into life or moral truth life or moral truth the author the author communicates communicates through the plot.through the plot.

Theme/Moral Theme/Moral Lesson/PremiseLesson/Premise

A reference to some person, A reference to some person, character, work of literature, character, work of literature, or historical event outside or historical event outside the plot of the story.the plot of the story.

Frequently, characters and Frequently, characters and lines from the works of lines from the works of William Shakespeare and the William Shakespeare and the Bible are used in allusions.Bible are used in allusions.

AllusionAllusion

A person, place, or A person, place, or thing in a story that has thing in a story that has both a literal meaning both a literal meaning and a figurative (or and a figurative (or interpretive) meaning.interpretive) meaning.

SymbolSymbol

A short story A short story within a story within a story that adds that adds background or background or proves a point. proves a point.

AnecdoteAnecdote