Plot Structures

Question 1

• Aristotle’s Unified Plot

Answer 1

• triangle shaped structure

- beginning middle and end

Question 2

Freytag’s Pyramid

Answer 2

• modified Aristotle’s triangle, added rising and falling action
• exposition, introduction of conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, denouement

Question 3

Progressive Plot

Answer 3

• always moving forward (chronologically starts from beginning)
• introduction (setting), conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, denouement (end)
• hunger games, toy story, wizard of oz

Question 4

Episodic Plot

Answer 4

• series of chapters linked together but held separate by plot
• each can stand alone, but by combining, plot develops
• rising action, climax, end 1….
• tv series, comic books

Question 5

Parallel Plot

Answer 5

• each character has separate storyline that eventually converges with others
• each segment moves forward (chronologically)
• intertwining paths
• may start together, or end together, but climax occurs when the characters converge
• more than one main character
• game of thrones, Star Wars

Question 6

Flashback or Flash-forward Plot

Answer 6

• IN Media Res: begins in the midst of the action (not in the beginning) then fills in the holes
• can have multiple flashbacks
• starts middle, fill in conflict and beginning, rising action proceeds, climax, falling, end
• bird box, ratatouille, Deadpool

Question 7

The Hero’s Journey

Answer 7

• 3 acts
  1: ordinary world; call to adventure; refusal of the call; meeting the mentor; cross the first threshold
  2: tests, allies, enemies; approach innermost cave; ordeal; reward
  3: road back; resurrection; return with elixir
• incredible, Aladdin, the hobbit

Question 8

Three Act Structure

Answer 8

• 3 separate acts
  1: exposition, inciting incident, plot point 1( character decides to confront problem)
  2: rising action, midpoint, plot point 2( character is tested, fails, self-doubt)
  3: pre-climax, climax, denouement, end
• mainly used in drama or theater

Question 9

Plot?

Answer 9

• author’s arrangement of incidents
• organizing principle that controls the order of events
• a series of interconnected events in which every occurrence has a purpose
• plot=story

Question 10

Exposition

Answer 10

• the beginning of the story

- setting, characters, etc. introduced

Question 11

Inciting incident

Answer 11

• introduction of the conflict

Question 12

Rising action

Answer 12

• the action begins

- leads up to main action

Question 13

Climax

Answer 13

• point of most suspense

- the apex of the story

Question 14

Falling action

Answer 14

• settling down of the action

- wrapping up the story

Question 15

Resolution

Answer 15

• resolving the conflict

- ending the story

Question 16

Denouement

Answer 16

• epilogue

- happens after the story’s conclusion