Which plot element provides background information? Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Show
Exposition provides background information. Question Asked 6/15/2016 6:43:39 PM Updated 6/15/2016 7:06:39 PM 1 Answer/Comment Rating 8 Exposition provides background information. Added 6/15/2016 7:06:39 PM This answer has been confirmed as correct and helpful. Questions asked by the same visitor You want readers to love your story, to pick up your book and be so immersed they won't be able to put it down. To do that, though, you need to have a great plot. But what is plot, and how do you craft one into a great story? In this guide, we're going to talk about plot in literature. I'll share a broad definition of plot, then dive into the approach we use at The Write Practice (called The Write Structure), and finally you'll learn the six elements of plot that make stories entertaining and memorable. To do this, we'll look at a few examples of how these elements work in bestselling stories. We'll touch on story arcs, the different shapes a plot of a story can take. We'll also look at several plot diagrams to better understand how plot works visually. Finally, you'll learn exactly how you can use your new understanding of plot in your own stories. You can read the guide below or watch the video lesson here: This article contains an excerpt from our book The Write Structure, which is a timeless approach to storytelling and structure. You can learn more about it here. What Is Plot? Plot DefinitionPlot is a sequence of events in a story in which the main character is put into a challenging situation that forces them to make increasingly difficult choices, driving the story toward a climactic event and resolution. What are the 6 Elements of Plot and StructureWe will define each below, but here are the six elements of plot:
These elements are the major events in a story, and they're essential in all creative writing, whether you're writing a novel, screenplay, memoir, short story, or other form. Even skilled writers who do not use these intentionally are incorporating them into their writing subconsciously because they are what brings movement, conflict, action, and life to stories. You can learn more about each below or in my new book, The Write Structure. Story vs. PlotThere's a difference between story and plot, something author E.M. Forster makes a distinction between in his book, Aspects of the Novel. A story is just an event, almost a recitation of facts. The mouse ate a cookie isn’t a plot—it’s just a story (albeit a cute story). A plot, requires cause and effect. The mouse ate a cookie and then asked for a glass of milk is a plot because it’s causal. I’ll let Forster explain it better:
To trim that down:
Hemingway’s famous six-word story is an amazing example of plot: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” Why are they for sale? Because the baby never wore them (and oh, it’s so sad). These aren’t disconnected facts; this is actually a miniature plot. More on that in a moment. How Plot WorksPlot has a specific structure. It follows a format that sucks readers in; introduces characters, character development, and world building; and compels readers to keep reading in order to satisfy conflict and answer questions. Plot is about cause and effect, but, most importantly, plot is about choice, a character’s choice. In other words, it’s not just a recitation of facts; the facts you include in your plot each have a purpose, putting a character into a situation where they must make a decision and pulling the story toward its conclusion. The 6 Elements of PlotSo how do you build a plot with this cause-and-effect thing? Fortunately, the answer is simple: you break plot down into its components. The components of plot are like puzzle pieces. If you want your reader to see the final picture, you need to see the shape of each component and fit them into their proper place. Does anyone else feel like this puzzle piece is closing a hole in the universe or something? Just me? Too much Dr. Who, I guess. In The Write Structure, we talk about the six elements of plot: 1. Exposition. At the beginning of the story, the exposition establishes characters and setting. Not all your world-building happens here, but this is where you show your readers what “normal” is for your characters. That way, readers will know what’s wrong when we hit the next step. Learn more in our full exposition guide here. 2. Inciting Incident. The inciting incident is an event in a story that throws the main character into a challenging situation, upsetting the status quo and beginning the story’s movement, either in a positive way or negative. This movement culminates in the climax and denouement. Learn more in our full inciting incident guide here. 3. Rising action, or Progressive Complications. This is the largest part of the story, and where most of the conflict takes place. You know that quote about getting your characters up a tree, then throwing rocks at them? This is rock-throwing time. Here’s where you raise the stakes and begin building up to the story’s climax. It’s crucial that your readers know what’s at stake here; it’s also critical that they clearly understand the conflict. Learn more our full rising action guide here. 4. Dilemma (or crisis, according to Story Grid). This is the most important element, what you've been building toward, the moment when a character is put into a situation where they must make an impossible choice. Learn more in our full dilemma guide here. 5. Climax. This is the big moment! The character’s choice from the dilemma drives the outcome of the conflict. If you did it right, this is the worst (i.e. best) moment of tension in the whole story, setting your readers on edge. Learn more in our full climax guide here. 6. Denouement or Resolution. Now, at the end of the story, you’re establishing “normal” all over again—but the new normal, incorporating the changes and experiences of your characters. Your readers can sit with your characters a little in their new normal, emotionally wrapping everything up so your reader can put the book away without flipping back through the pages to see what they missed. It’s a scene-closure with enough finality to deserve those two words: The End. Learn more in our full denouement guide here. Historical Note: One of the earliest writers to talk about this structure was Gustav Freytag, the German author who wrote in the middle of the 19th century. His basic structure became known as Freytag’s Pyramid, and he was the first to talk about many of five elements of plot we discuss above. While we salute Freytag for bringing language to these plot points, we believe Freytag's Pyramid is an outdated and misunderstood plot framework. You can read more about Freytag's Pyramid and whether you should use it in our guide on the five act structure here. How to Create a Plot Outline: Start With the 6 ElementsThe cool thing about those six elements is that they can make up your first six plot points when you're creating an outline. In fact, putting together a plot outline doesn't have to be complicated, all you need are six sentences, one for each element, and you'll have a strong outline to begin your story with. Give it a try in the Practice section below! What about the Falling Action?In The Write Structure, the plot framework we've developed at The Write Practice, we don't use the plot point falling action, which you might see in other frameworks. Why do exclude it? Falling action is usually described as the events to wind down the plot after the climax, but in most stories, the climax happens near the end of a story, usually in the third to last scene. Thus, the falling action and denouement are virtually indistinguishable. To avoid confusion, we believe the falling action should be phased out from use as an element of plot. You can learn more about why we don't consider falling action a plot element here. Do Short Stories Have These Elements?Yes! In fact, every scene and every act in a story should have each of these elements as well. In a short story, however, these elements will be necessarily abbreviated. For example, where rising action might have many complications in a novel, it might only have one complication in a short story. What Is a Plot Type: Stories Come In 10 TypesStories have been told for thousands of years, and as they have evolved, they have started to fall into patterns, patterns we call plot types or story types. These types tend to be about the same underlying, universal values and share similar structures, characters, and what Robert McKee calls obligatory scenes. There are 10 major plot types:
While plot types are related to genre, they also transcend genre and have been consistent throughout history, dealing with the timeless, universal values behind stories. We fully explore these values, each of these ten plot types, in our complete Plot Types guide here. What Is a Plot Diagram: Story Arcs Can Have Many ShapesWhile all plots have a set structure, they can have many shapes or arcs. These arcs can be visualized in a plot diagram, like those below. Plot Diagram Definition
Here are five of the most common story arcs, visualized in plot diagrams. For more on each of these, check out our complete story arcs guide here. Rags to Riches Plot DiagramRags to riches is one of the most basic plot diagrams. A character starts in a bad place at the start and things get better and better. Here's how the plot points work work in rags to riches:
This is a relatively simple plot diagram. Now, let's look at a few more complicated shapes. Man In a Hole Plot DiagramIn a “man in a hole” story arc, a common arc, the main character starts out in a good place, gets into trouble, and then gets themselves out of it, to finish the story with a happy ending. Here's how the plot points work for a man in a hole arc:
Related to the man in a hole arc is the “double man in a hole” arc. Double Man In a Hole Plot DiagramBuilding upon the man in a hole arc is the double man in a hole arc, one of the most popular shapes for stories, appearing in many bestselling novels and blockbuster films. Like man in a hole, it begins with a character who is in a great place, but soon gets into trouble. They get themselves out of trouble, but then they get themselves back into trouble again. Finally, they get themselves back out of trouble, and the story ends with a happy ending. Here's how the plot elements work in this arc:
Cinderella Plot DiagramAnother story arc with a happy ending, one especially popular in romantic comedies, is the Cinderella arc. Here's how it works with the six elements:
Icarus Plot DiagramThe Icarus arc is quintessential tragedy. The plot elements usually are usually arranged like this:
This last plot diagram might look the most recognizable, since it's the shape that is used most to plot, originating with Freytag himself. However, it's built on a misunderstanding of how plots move. All stories do not follow this exact shape, and by forcing stories into this shape, we only cause confusion. The one requirement is that a story must move, there must be some kind of change, but the shape that story takes is widely variable. For more on this, including the six main shapes stories can take, plus the three bestselling story arcs, check out our full story arc guide here. Can Your Story Have More than One Plot? Main Plots, Subplots, and Internal PlotsMost great stories, if you dissect them, are made up on not one but two or three plots. You have:
If you want to learn more about how to use subplots, I recommend checking out our full subplot guide here. The Components of Plot: ExamplesLet’s look at a few examples of plot elements at work in two well known stories. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. RowlingAlso known as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to those familiar with the U.K. version.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
(By the way, K.M. Weiland has an incredible database of stories in which she breaks down the plots of movies and books alike. Check it out and enjoy.) Plot Questions to Ask YourselfSo how do you achieve this amazing plot structure? There are a few simple questions to ask yourself about every scene that can help you whittle away problems and connect what needs connecting.
Need more plot help? After you work on practicing this structure in the exercise section below, check out my new book The Write Structure which helps writers make their plot better and write books readers love. Low price for a limited time! Get The Write Structure – $9.99 $5.99 » Do you struggle with any of the elements of plot? Let me know in the comments. PRACTICEIt’s time to apply this to your writing. For this lesson, you have two options for your practice:
Set your timer for fifteen minutes and go through one of the plot exercises above. When you’re finished with your practice, post it in the comments. Don’t forget to leave feedback for your fellow writers! About the author Joe BuntingJoe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris, a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting). Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here. Ruthanne ReidBest-Selling author Ruthanne Reid has led a convention panel on world-building, taught courses on plot and character development, and was keynote speaker for The Write Practice 2021 Spring Retreat. Author of two series with five books and fifty short stories, Ruthanne has lived in her head since childhood, when she wrote her first story about a pony princess and a genocidal snake-kingdom, using up her mom’s red typewriter ribbon. When she isn’t reading, writing, or reading about writing, Ruthanne enjoys old cartoons with her husband and two cats, and dreams of living on an island beach far, far away. P.S. Red is still her favorite color. Which plot element provides background information?This is called the EXPOSITION. It is the background information on the characters and setting explained at the beginning of the story. The EXPOSITION will often have information about events that happened before the story began. The EXPOSITION is often the very first part of the PLOT.
Which plot element provides background information introduces the main characters and establishes the conflict 5 points climax denouement exposition resolution?1. Exposition. This is your book's introduction, where you introduce your characters, establish the setting, and begin to introduce the primary conflict of your story.
Which term refers to the plot element that provides background information in a story a rising action exposition falling action climax?There are usually considered to be five elements in a plot line: exposition or background information, rising action (that which complicates the story), climax or crisis, falling action, and resolution. The plot describes the structure of a story. It shows arrangement of events and actions within a story. Plot.
What is rising action in a story?What Is Rising Action? The rising action is the second of six essential plot elements, which comes right after the opening of a story, otherwise known as the exposition. It is usually made up of a series of events that lay down breadcrumbs, ask questions, and set roadblocks and conflicts that must be overcome.
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