The Three Little PigsThere was a big, bad wolf looking for food

who finally discovers three little pigs, each of whom has his own home made of straw, sticks and, finally, bricks. The wolf knocks on each door, threatening to blow each pig’s house down. The pig with the straw house and the pig with the stick house fall victim to the wolf's threat. The homeless pigs take refuge in the third pig's brick house. The wolf continues to huff, puff, and blow the house down but when he finally gives up and decides to come down the chimney, the pigs are ready with a trap and the wolf is killed. The three little pigs live happily ever after in the brick house and they never have to worry about the big, bad wolf ever, again.

Plot Chart or Story Arch

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Plot Definition

Plot is the organized pattern or sequence of events that make up a story. Every plot is made up of a series of incidents that are related to one another.

Plot Example

What is the plot of “The Three Little Pigs?

Exposition Definition

The beginning of the story in which the characters, setting and conflict are introduced.

1. ExpositionCharacters: the people and/or animals of the story

Setting: the place and time of where the story takes place

Conflict: the struggle or problem that is challenging the main character

Exposition Example:

• What happens in the exposition of “The Three Little Pigs”?

The exposition is

when the characters,

setting and conflict

are introduced.

Characters Example:

• Who are the characters?

The characters are the three

pigs and the wolf.

Setting Example:

• What is the setting?

The setting is the

village where the pigs

live at their three

houses.

Conflict Example:

• What is the conflict?

The conflict is that the wolf

wants to eat the pigs

Rising Action Definition:

A series of challenges that build to the climax.

Complication:A new challenge arises

• What is the rising action in

“The Three Little Pigs”?

The rising action is when the wolf goes to the first two houses and blows them down and the pigs have to run to the third pig’s house.

Rising Action Example:

Climax DefinitionThe most interesting/exciting part of the story; where the reader starts to see how the conflict will be resolved. The “turning point”

Climax Example:

• What is the climax of “The Three Little Pigs”?

The climax is when the

wolf tries to blow down the

third house and fails.

Falling Action Definition:The series of events that follow the turning point to the resolution; how the author ties up any “loose ends”

Falling Action Example:

• What is the falling action in “The Three Little Pigs”?

The falling action is when the the wolf is killed in the trap

Resolution Definition

The conflict and story are ultimately resolved or completed; how does it end?

Resolution Example:

• What is the resolution of “The Three Little Pigs”?

The resolution is when the three pigs get rid of the wolf and live

happily ever after.

Using your vocabulary notes, label each of the parts of plot on the yellow paper.

Review• Choose one of the following stories and

identify the parts of its plot.