Plot Flashcards
Setting
The location of the narrative in time and space
Inciting incident
The moment that introduces or establishes the conflict
Conflict
The central struggle that drives the plot
Rising action
The early part of the narrative, building momentum and developing the major conflict
Climax
The moment of highest tension, at which the conflict comes to head
Anti-climax
Occurs when the plot builds to an expected climax only to tease the reader with a frustrating nonevent
Falling action
Also called a Denouement; where the protagonist responds to the events of the climax and the various plot elements introduced in the rising action are resolved
Reversal
A sudden shift which sends a protagonist fortunes from good to bad, or bad to good
Resolution
An ending which satisfactorily answered all the questions raised over the course of the plot
Chronological plot
Events are arranged in a sequence in which they occur
Achronological plot
Events are not arranged in the sequence in which they occur, often through the use of flashbacks or digress relating to times for the current, central conflict
Episodic plot
A series of loosely connected events
Non sequitur plot
More of an ‘anti-plot’; defies traditional logic by presenting events without any clear sequins and characters it out any clear motivation
Subplot
A secondary plot that is of less importance to the overall story but may serve as a point of contrast or comparison to the main plot
