The Pedestrian—The Pedestrian—Literary FocusLiterary Focus

PlotPlot ConflictConflict Playing with timePlaying with time SettingSetting MoodMood ThemeTheme

PlotPlot

The sequence of The sequence of related events related events that make a story that make a story hang together.hang together.

Building Blocks Building Blocks of Plotof Plot

ExpositionExposition Rising ActionRising Action ClimaxClimax Resolution or Resolution or

denouementdenouement

ExpositionExposition

Presents a main character who wants Presents a main character who wants something very much and who something very much and who encounters a encounters a conflictconflict while trying to while trying to get it.get it.

Cinderella

Rising ActionRising Action

A series of events that cause problems.A series of events that cause problems. Cinderella’s fairy godmother helps her go to Cinderella’s fairy godmother helps her go to

the ball and gives her a fashion makeover, the ball and gives her a fashion makeover, but she must be home by midnight.but she must be home by midnight.

Cinderella dances with the prince, but he Cinderella dances with the prince, but he doesn’t get her name.doesn’t get her name.

At midnight, as she is fleeing, Cinderella At midnight, as she is fleeing, Cinderella loses one glass slipper. loses one glass slipper.

ClimaxClimax

The high point of the plot—the story’s The high point of the plot—the story’s most exciting or suspenseful moment, most exciting or suspenseful moment, when something happens that decides when something happens that decides the outcome of the conflict.the outcome of the conflict. The prince discovers that the glass slipper The prince discovers that the glass slipper

fits Cinderella’s foot.fits Cinderella’s foot.

Resolution / DenouementResolution / Denouement

The last part of the plot when the The last part of the plot when the problems are resolved and the problems are resolved and the story ends.story ends. Cinderella marries the prince / “they lived Cinderella marries the prince / “they lived

happily ever after”happily ever after”

Two TypesTwo Typesof Conflictof Conflict

External conflictExternal conflict – pits character against – pits character against an outside forcean outside force Cinderella’s stepmother locks her in her Cinderella’s stepmother locks her in her

room to prevent her from going to the ball.room to prevent her from going to the ball.

Internal conflictInternal conflict – a struggle inside the – a struggle inside the character’s own heart or mindcharacter’s own heart or mind If Cinderella could go to the ball, but If Cinderella could go to the ball, but

hesitated out of shyness.hesitated out of shyness.

Sequence and TimingSequence and Timing

Chronological orderChronological order – begin at the – begin at the beginning and tell about each event in beginning and tell about each event in the order in which it happensthe order in which it happens

To create suspense, writers might slow To create suspense, writers might slow time down.time down.

Playing With TimePlaying With Time

FlashbacksFlashbacks – the present action in a – the present action in a story is interrupted with a scene or story is interrupted with a scene or scenes from the past.scenes from the past.

Flash-forwardsFlash-forwards – visit a character’s future – visit a character’s future ForeshadowingForeshadowing – the use of clues that – the use of clues that

hint at something that will happen later in hint at something that will happen later in the plotthe plot

SettingSetting

Time and place of a story or play.Time and place of a story or play.

MoodMood A story’s atmosphere or the feeling it A story’s atmosphere or the feeling it

evokes.evokes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2sDw-XBuKc

ThemeTheme

The central idea or insight about human life The central idea or insight about human life revealed by a work of literature.revealed by a work of literature. NOT the work’s subjectNOT the work’s subject The message the writer wishes us to discover about The message the writer wishes us to discover about

the subjectthe subject Examples of universal themes:Examples of universal themes:

Heroes must undergo trials and endure losses before they Heroes must undergo trials and endure losses before they can claim their rightful kingdom.can claim their rightful kingdom.

Arrogance and pride can bring destruction.Arrogance and pride can bring destruction. Love will endure and triumph over evil.Love will endure and triumph over evil.