Today’s Standard

Reading Standard 3.2

Evaluate the structural elements of the plot (for example, subplots, parallel episodes, climax), the plot’s development, and the way in which conflicts are (or are not) addressed and resolved.

Review: Elements of Plot

Basic Situation

Conflict

Complications

Climax

Resolution(Who are the charactersand what is their situation)

(Character’s Problem)

(Additional Obstacles Faced by Characters)

(Highest Point of Suspense)

(How Conflicts Are Resolved,Loose Ends Are Tied Up)

Subplots:

Plots that are part of the larger story but are not as important.

The prefix sub- means “under” or “less important than.”

Example: In William Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the major plot involves the couples of Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius but there are also several subplots. These include the struggles of the acting troupe and Titania and Oberon’s feud

Parallel Episodes:

Repeated scenes. The storyteller repeats the main outline of an episode several time within a work.

Example: In A Midsummer Night’s Dream William Shakespeare presents several parallel episodes of mixed up love: Hermia and Demetrius, Helena and Lysander, Titania and the ass, Bottom and Titania.

The author gives the same storyline in similar parallel forms.

Summarizing a Plot:

Most plots can be summarized by using a strategy called somebody wanted but so.

Somebody is the main character(s).Wanted is what that character(s) want.But means the complications that develop that make it harderfor the character(s) to get what he/ she wants.So is how it all works out in the end.

Example: Lysander and Hermia want to get married but are forbidden by her father so they are forced to run away into a forest where their love gets all mixed up, but things work out in the end and they are finally allowed to marry each other.

Conflict:External Conflict: The character struggles against outside forces. Can you think of some examples?

Internal Conflict: The character struggles with some conflict or emotional turmoil inside of him or her self.Can you think of some examples of this kind of conflict?

Types of Conflict

1. Man vs. Man

2. Man vs. Self

3. Man vs. Nature

4. Man vs. Unknown

5. Man vs. Society

Review Quiz

1. What is the highest point of tension in a story called?2. What is the resolution in a plot?3. In The Giver all of the similar episodes in which The Giver transfers memories to Jonas are examples of ____________ ____________ in a plot.4. A character is stranded in the mountains and fights against a blizzard to make his way to safety. Is this an internal or external conflict?5. Summarize the plot of The Giver using the “Somebody Wanted But So” strategy.6. Give an example of a subplot from a piece of literature from the 7th grade curriculum. Tell why it is a subplot.