ELEMENTS OF A
STORY
ENG1D

The 4 Main Elements
Plot
something needs to happen or it’s tough to have a story
Characters
if you’re telling a story, you likely need someone to be in it!
Setting
your story has to take place somewhere!
Point of View
who is telling your story?

Today’s
focus:
PLOT
Plot Structure

Climbing the Plot Line
6. Climax
5. Crisis
4. Complications
7. Resolution
3. Conflict
2. Inciting Moment
1. Exposition

7 Points on a Plot Curve
Exposition
the introduction: where we’re EXPOSed to the characters and
essential details
Inciting moment
aka: narrative hook
where the action kicks into gear
the conflict is introduced here
where it starts to get interesting

7 Points on a Plot Curve
Crisis
the largest problem the main character encounters
often the turning point
Complications
obstructions that prevent the main character from solving the
crisis
may be minor conflicts or problems

7 Points on a Plot Curve
Conflict
an ongoing struggle between 2 opposing forces, ideas, or people
can take different forms:
human vs. human
human vs. nature
human vs. him\\herself
the emotional peak of the story

7 Points on a Plot Curve
Climax
the emotional peak of the story
where the conflict reaches its ultimate intensity / complication
main character gets the best or worst of the conflict (wins or
loses)

7 Points on a Plot Curve
Resolution (aka denouement)
“Tying up loose ends”
sorting out the details that are left after the climax
conflict is resolved, and the story has finished

Climbing the Plot Line

Climbing the Plot Line
1. Exposition

Climbing the Plot Line
2. Inciting Moment
1. Exposition

Climbing the Plot Line
3. Conflict
2. Inciting Moment
1. Exposition

Climbing the Plot Line
4. Complications
3. Conflict
2. Inciting Moment
1. Exposition

Climbing the Plot Line
5. Crisis
4. Complications
3. Conflict
2. Inciting Moment
1. Exposition

Climbing the Plot Line
6. Climax
5. Crisis
4. Complications
3. Conflict
2. Inciting Moment
1. Exposition

Climbing the Plot Line
6. Climax
5. Crisis
4. Complications
7. Resolution
3. Conflict
2. Inciting Moment
1. Exposition

Ideally, it looks like this:
6. Climax
5. Crisis
4. Complications
3. Conflict
2. Inciting Moment
7. Resolution
1. Exposition