This document outlines the typical plot structure of a story, including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. It then provides an example analysis of the plot elements in the fairy tale Cinderella. The exposition introduces the characters of Cinderella, her step-mother and step-sisters, and the setting. The rising action includes Cinderella facing crises where she is mistreated and not allowed to attend the ball. The climax occurs when Cinderella's fairy godmother helps her go to the ball, where she meets the prince. The falling action consists of her fleeing the ball and leaving behind a glass slipper. In the resolution, the prince finds Cinderella and they live

1. •Exposition
•Rising action
•Climax
•Falling action
•Resolution

2. ~ Point of highest emotion / tension
~ turning point
Climax
Resolution of
character’s crisis
1 or more
Exposition characters Resolution
in crisis
Introduces: All loose ends
~ characters tied up.
~ setting

3. Let’s take a look at
the elements of plot
with the story of
Cinderella!

4. Once upon a time, in a
land far away, there
lived a girl named
Cinderella. She lived
with her evil step-
mother and two evil
step-sisters.
Exposition
Introduced:
~ characters – Cinderella, step-mother, and step-sisters
~ setting – (time) long ago, (place) land far away

5. Everyday, the evil step-mother made Cinderella
work all day long and into the night.
One day, an invitation to a ball was sent to all the
young maidens of the kingdom, but the evil step-
mother would not allow Cinderella to go to the ball
and locked her in her room.
Cinderella thought all
hope was lost until her
fairy godmother appeared.
Dressed in a beautiful
1 or more characters gown and glass slippers,
face a crisis. Cinderella rushed off to
attend the ball.

6. As the clock struck 12, Cinderella ran away as
fast as she could. Although Prince Charming
looked for her, all he found was a glass slipper.
The plot thickens…

7. ~ Point of highest emotion or tension …
~ Turning point
Climax
Cinderella held her breath as Prince
Charming gently slipped the glass
slipper onto her foot. Prince
Charming took Cinderella by the hand
and made her his bride.

8. Resolution of character’s crisis
Cinderella went to live with
Prince Charming in the beautiful
castle on the hill.

9. Cinderella and Prince Charming
lived happily ever after.
Resolution
All loose ends tied up.

11. Choose a fairy tale you
remember from your
childhood days and diagram
the elements of the plot using
a diagram like the one in this
presentation.
Be prepared to share with the
class!