An overview of plot with examples from literary fiction and modern film. With questions for analyzing plot in an essay. Advanced High School or college level.

1. How will IT ALL end?
An introduction to Plot
with tips for essay 1 and looking ahead
at a Creative Option for Essay 3

2. A good story entertains and engages us. We journey with characters who may be very different
from us, may not even be human. What keeps us going is curiosity about what’s going to happen.
With the curiosity may also come tension or fear, but it’s a pleasant kind of tension and a thrilling
fear. “Don’t trust Scar!” we yell to Simba. We feel every blow with Rocky and hope that T'Challa,
the Black Panther, somehow, survived falling off the cliff. We argue with friends about who will sit
on the iron throne. And even though we knew all along that the Titanic is going to sink, we’re
riveted wondering what will happen to Rose and Jack. We worry that Peter Parker’s true identity
will be revealed.
“We have a situation!” Might be the opening line of Chapter 2’s short stories: two characters
walking into trouble. If we see it coming before they do, the plot’s doing it’s job.
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 2
Plot is the backbone of story-
telling. It holds all the other
elements, such as character,
setting and tone, together.
Something has to be happening,
or about to happen, for us to care.

3. Bonus Points
Plot Analysis
in this
Lecture
For up to 20 Bonus Points, analyze plot
in a film, TV series or novel you know
well (or just watched/read). To do
that, answer the 5 questions in
purple throughout this lecture, and
anything else you feel is important or
interesting. Send your answers in by
email any time.
When turning in Bonus Point
opportunities, introduce them. I offer
many and it’s helpful to be reminded
what I asked for. For example, Below
(or attached) is my plot analysis of the
Netflix series “Away” as described in
the plot lecture.
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 3

4. Something’s going to happen
any minute now!
Do you like films in which a
clock counts down to
disaster, as in Independence
Day? If so, you like your
fiction with a strong plot.
There’s a deadline, an
ultimatum, a ticking bomb, a
rush to overcome obstacles
by the time X happens. In
Independence Day, X is just
the annihilation of the whole
human race. No pressure.
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L
A good plot builds suspense and keeps us
watching, listening or reading. Ever read a
book so good you don’t want to stop to
eat? Miss your exit because the audio
book has reached the climax of the plot?
Yelped when someone ran in and
interrupted the movie?
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5. “In which
we
learn…”
These are the opening words of Neil
Gaiman’s novel Stardust, which was made
into a film of the same title. It then states
a (fantasy) fact that should make readers
curious:
“Chapter One, in which we learn of
the village of Wall and of the curious
thing that occurs there every nine
years.”
Well what happens every nine years? How
close is year nine? The plot has begun.
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 5

6. Plot is like
an engine
that drives
the story
forward.
And like an
engine it has
parts.
 Exposition – Meet the characters, find out their
situations and where and when things are happening.
Usually at the start or might be a flashback. Preview a
coming conflict.
 Foreshadowing – Hints about what is to come. In
Deadpool 2 the hero makes asides about the heavy
foreshadowing.
 Inciting incident – Something happens, the characters’
situation changes. They run to or from something.
They’re more motivated.
 Rising action – As the characters act, conflicts and
problems build tension and reveal character. As we
know people better, we care more, leading to more
suspense.
 Climax – Moment of most suspense, tension, danger.
The turning point. All may be lost! We hope not (if we
care about the characters).
 Falling action – Questions resolved. The cool down
time, the big wedding, the quiet talk. Tension over.
 Conclusion or Resolution – Characters in their new
situation, sometimes a reversal of starting situation.
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 6

7. Exposition
Exposition should give us enough information to know what’s going without
slowing down the story. In “All Summer in a Day” Bradbury doesn’t explain why
people are living on Venus. It’s history that would slow down the plot. In a
novel, that background might be slipped in after we become interested in the
main characters. All we really need to know is “the characters, their situations,
and, usually, a time and place” (52)*. For “All Summer in a Day” the time is
RIGHT BEFORE THE SUN SHINES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVEN YEARS! That’s all
we need to know for the plot to get going.
Pieces set in distant or imaginary places often need more exposition. In Black
Panther, for example, we need basic info about vibranium and how the
amazing suit works. Luckily, T'Challa's sister Shuri likes explaining the science
behind her inventions. Notice the bit of exposition/explaining about the suit
and kinetic energy slipped into this action scene.
In some movies a voice-over tells us what we need, or one character will
reminisce to another. Or the information might just scroll by in weird text
across the dark sky of space, Star Wars style. Long ago in a Galaxy far far away
. . .
Additional exposition may be needed mid-story. The 2017 film Get Out gives
this brilliantly by way of a promotional sales video made by the group holding
the main character prisoner. In it we find out, along with him, the cruel details
of what they intend to do. That the video is for “customers” of the vile process
makes it more plausibly detailed. And creepy.
1. Bonus Plot Analysis: Where and how does the film, series or
book you’re thinking of fit in needed background info about
the characters, their situations and the time and place? Did it
work for you? Too much info, too little?
*All page numbers are in our textbook unless indicated otherwise.
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 7

8. Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is key to a good plot. It’s
the little hints about what is to come. In
a movie it might be ominous music or a
close-up of someone’s face. It could be
in dialog, as when a stranger early on in
“Where are you Going, Where have you
Been” says to Connie “Gonna get you,
baby.” She didn’t think anything of it but
we may have. That’s foreshadowing.
For 10 BP’s find one of our stories in the
Week 2 forum that you feel had good
foreshadowing. Send me the story with
a little about why it worked for you.
Please name the writer.
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 8

9. Strong foreshadowing in Get Out
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 9
In the 2017 film Get Out, even the title
foreshadows something bad. And yet we watch.
The main character’s best friend strongly warns
him not to go to his girlfriend’s house in the
country. And yet he goes.
Someone there says right to him “Get out!” And
yet he stays.
The disturbing details pile up until he realizes
he Has. To. Get. Out. And now it’s too late. That’s
the horror part.
“Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run
by on their way to incredible destinations.”
― Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing

10. Inciting
incident
Nearly every story (not to mention
every bad day) has one: an incident
that gets the action going (incites it).
An Australian new to NY loses her
apartment keys, AND she’s barefoot. A
a husband needs money for his sick
wife’s medicine. The sun comes out on
Venus for the first time in years. A
spaceship appears in the sky. Santa’s
reindeer get sick. Someone inherits a
million dollars but to get it, the will
says, they have to _____ And you can
bet that blank is something really hard
that they don’t want to do.
2. Bonus Plot Analysis: What’s the inciting incident in your
piece?
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 10

11. Rising
Action
Suspense rises as characters try to overcome Obstacles and
work out internal and external Conflicts. To use
Independence Day again, the Jeff Goldblum character, David
Levinson, discovers the timer counting down to an alien
invasion. He's in New York. He must get to The President in
D.C. to warn him.
But he doesn’t know how to drive (obstacle). He fights to
find his father, who does know how to drive, and they head
for D.C.
But everyone is leaving D.C. so . . . traffic (obstacle). And his
dad drives so slow (obstacle). But they get there at last. They
pull up in front of the Whitehouse and David rigs up a
Satellite phone to call his ex-wife. Oh did we mention…little
obstacle here: David’s ex-wife a) has not been taking his
calls, and b) happens to be the chief of staff to The
President.
Yes, OBSTACLE. She’s won’t talk to him or let him through to
the president. M e a n w h i l e . . . the clock is ticking down
to the alien invasion.
3. Bonus Plot Analysis: What obstacles and conflicts
build tension in your piece? Is there enough, or do you
feel more was needed to hold your interest and build
suspense? What might have been added?
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 11

12. Rising Action in
“King of the
Bingo Game”
The main character is in a situation.
He’s broke and needs money for a
sick wife (exposition). So he’s come
to play a wheel-of-fortune type
game at a movie theater (setting). To
get to spin the wheel you have to
win at bingo. He wins and is called to
the stage – rising action. Once up
there he can’t seem to press the
button to stop the wheel. He freezes.
People yell at him to press the
button. The tension rises more. He
thinks of Laura. We get to know his
past more and perhaps care more.
What’s he going to do? How will this
end? The plot builds toward some
unknown but inevitable climax.
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 12

13. Climax
The climax is when suspense and tension are highest.
It’s that moment when you do not go for popcorn. In
Titanic, the action climaxes when the ship is about to
go down. Will they make it?! Perhaps the emotional
climax is the moving scene in the water when Jack
sacrifices himself for love. (I still think two could have
fit on the piece of wood!)
Climax is in the eye of the beholder. In the hands of a
skilled storyteller though most of the audience
should be on the edge of their seats at about the
same time.
4. Bonus Plot Analysis: What would you say is the climax of
your piece? If that’s hard to answer, maybe the piece you
picked just doesn’t have a strong plot. Some very good
movies are not heavily plotted (The Tree of Life is a good
example and Before Sunset).
Here’s a list of heavily plotted movies.
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 13

14. Climax in the Chapter 2 Stories
Both stories in Chapter 2 have intense endings as
bad things happen to the main characters. The
action rises slowly but steadily as the Bingo
player stands on stage holding the button (pp 59-
63) and Connie stands in her doorway talking to
the stranger and realizing she’s in trouble (pp 71-
75). For an extended essay #1 you could compare
and contrast these 2 climaxes. Which worked
better for you? Which gave you the strongest
reaction? Why?
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 14

15. Resolution
After the climax, tension drops.
There’s relief, humor, joy, peace. The
writer might let us know where
everyone is or where they’re going
next. In Independence Day, the
scientist and his ex get back together
after he and Will Smith save the
planet. In Get Out, the friend who
warned the main character not to go
to the country gets to say “I told you
so.” And in Titanic we see literal
snapshots of the good life the
surviving half of the happy couple
lived after the disaster.
This after-climax time is sometimes
also called the Denouement – French
for untying the knot (the knot of the
plot, that is). Whatever we call it, it’s a
satisfying part of the plot.
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L
5. Bonus Plot Analysis: How long is the resolution part
of your film/novel? Did you find it satisfying? Are all the
lose ends tied up, or are some questions left hanging?
SPOILER ALERT. Danger over, planet saved, cigars lit, divorce papers torn
up! Independence Day has a long happy resolution as several plot lines
conclude. We see the alien ships taken down by nations around the world,
the Goldbloom character is re-united with his estranged wife, and the Will
Smith character is thanked by the president.

16. Resolution in the Chapter 2 Stories
To me the brilliance of Ralph Ellison and Joyce
Carol Oates shines through in the last
paragraphs of these two stories. Poignant, sad,
moving, so human. Wait! What? No.
Yes, the authors seem to say. O yes. This
happened and much more like this. How can we
go on? How can we not?
An essay or BP idea: Where does each story’s
resolution start? Which gives us more about
what will happen after the ending? Which did
you feel more? Is either ending changed in some
way by current events? What would you ask the
author about the ending?
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 16

17. Those Twisted
Plots
Wait, what, he killed Lila?
How to Get Away with Murder fans
were rocked by the ending of
season 2. Flashbacks supplied the
missing puzzle pieces that made it
all come together. Er, sort of.
The Statue of Liberty showing up at
the end of Planet of the Apes is a
famous, if dated, example of a plot
twist. Spoiler alert: They thought
they were on another planet run by
apes when really they were on a
future earth. Run by apes.
In the Forum we’ll discuss plot
twists that worked well and others
that felt contrived. Where do you
stand on the stunning ending of The
Sixth Sense?
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 17

18. TMU (The Marvel Universe)
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 18
In super hero stories, characters
overcome tremendous inner and
outer obstacles as they strive to meet
their goals, escape their doubts, face
their inner demons, defeat the villians
and achieve their destiny. The world
might get saved too.
For up 10-20 Bonus Points, send an
email about a fictional character who
inspires you. What obstacles and
conflicts have they overcome? What
does their journey reveal about their
character, and about human (or
superhuman) nature? How are you
like this character?

19. From
the King,
thoughts
about
plot
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 19
Some writers say plot is an over-rated,
artificial way to think about a story.
Stephen King explains that he doesn’t
plan out plots. He just puts someone in a
situation and keeps writing to see what
happens.
Life puts in situations from time to time,
maybe even from the start. Story-telling
was first born – and lives on through
every new media that comes along –
because it lets us reflect on all that
happens to us, and all that we make
happen as we survive, thrive and keep
on keeping on.

20. This lecture and the
React & Reflect Essay
In the React and Reflect essay, you describe your
reactions to any assigned piece and reflect on what
element in the piece and/or your life led to those
reactions. In these first weeks the elements we’re
studying are plot, character and setting. Start thinking
now about which piece you might use and what its
plot had to do with your reactions. Short stories tend
to have more obvious plots but poems and plays do
too, if you can tease it out. I appreciate essays that go
for the less obvious and take risks.
On the next slide find a list of pieces to choose from
in the first essay.
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 20

21. Pieces to
choose from
for Essay #1
Find page numbers & links in
that week’s folder.
Extra & bonus assignments
can also be used.
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 21
• “Of the Threads that Connect the Stars”.
• “Rat Ode”
• “All Summer in a Day”
• A scene from a film version of the stage play Fences
Week 1
• Any story from The Moth Radio Hour archive
• Three poems in the Introduction
Week 2
• “King of the Bingo Game”
• “Where are you Going, Where have you Been?”
Week 3
• Sonny’s Blues
Week 4
• “Araby”
• “A Pair of Tickets,”
• “Volar”
• tv series episode (varies with semester)
Week 5

22. Plot
Questions to
develop a
React &
Reflect Essay
 Did the piece make you wonder How will this turn
out? Did you feel curious, tense? Then it will pair well
with plot.
 How well did the piece fit in the exposition? Too
much, too little? Were you confused?
 If there’s very little action is there still suspense?
Explain.
 Are events told in the order they happened, or
jumbled? Do they start in the middle? How did that
affect your experience?
 What part / moment felt like the climax to you? What
foreshadowed that?
 Weak plot? Feel free to be a critic. An oppositional
stance can make writing the essay easier.
 What obstacles did the main character overcome?
 Are obstacles & conflicts more internal? Do characters
battle with themselves or with an outside force? A
mix? Break it down in your essay.
 What scenes and quotes from the piece really show
the moving parts of the plot?
 Does a poem have a sort of plot? Anything that makes
you wonder what will happen? If using “Rat Ode,”
consider her long introduction. Any foreshadowing
there?
Also see “Questions about Plot” on page 55-56.
You could structure your essay on those questions.
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 22

23. Plot
Questions for
an extended
essay
(where a 2nd piece is
added)
 How plotted is each piece? What type of plot is
each (p. 55)?
 Which plot did you enjoy more? Why?
 Does each piece include obstacles & conflicts that
force characters to make choices and change?
Which one does that more?
 What created curiosity or suspense for you in
each piece?
 How well do the authors fit in needed exposition?
 Does one rely on flashbacks more than the other?
 Are the obstacles mainly inner or outer
(psychological or social)?
 How exciting is each climax? Which one works
better for you?
 What foreshadowed the climax? (Re-reading will
help you see the hints that point to the climax.)
 Do both pieces have a resolution section?
 Would one piece be better if it had a plot more
like the other piece?
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 23

24. Plot & the
Essay #3
Creative
Option
Introduction
to
Plot.
ENGL
151L
The last essay offers two options: 1) Trace a theme you see
running through 3 or more pieces and 2) Expand a story from
your own life into a fictional short story. This lecture and Chapter
2 give you tools to create a riveting, well-plotted story out of
something you posted in the forum or journal. Some questions to
ask yourself:
• Is my story a tragedy or a comedy? (p 55)
• What’s the best place to start? Hint: Not always at the start!
• What’s the best sequence to re-tell events? Think of movies
you like that start in the middle then flash on screen
something like X hours/days/years earlier.
• What big events should I foreshadow and where?
• Do I want readers totally surprised by a plot-twist at the
end?
• How much background info to give and where?
• Where to slow or speed up the pace (p 49)? What moment
deserve lots of description, which ones quick summary?
• What conflicts and obstacles push the characters forward?
• How can I make the real-life climax more exciting?
• What should be in the conclusion / resolution section? One
sentence, a whole scene? A flash forward to years later?
• Or is my story a different type without much plotting?
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25. Movie Night soon? - Earn Bonus Points
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L
Use this simple graphic mentioned earlier or the one on page 51 to chart the plot of a film
right after you see it. Just write a few words about what happens in each section. Or put your
analysis into a paragraph or two. Feel free to adapt the graphic. Your film may have much
less or more rising action, for example, or have a long flashback that has its own parallel plot.
Have fun with it.
10-20 Bonus Points. For the full 20 include a critique: How well did the plot work? Any
implausible plot twists, boring data dumps, confusing flashbacks, jerky pace, disappointing or
unbelievable climax?
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