This document discusses plot in literature. It defines plot as the basic action within a work of fiction, which usually follows a pattern of establishing a conflict, complications arising from that conflict, a character taking decisive action or a climax occurring, and the conflict being resolved. It also describes common terms used to analyze plots, such as conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement. Finally, it mentions some common literary techniques like flashbacks, foreshadowing, open-ended stories, and stream of consciousness writing.

1. z
PLOT IN LITERATURE

2. z
PLOT
 a literary term used to describe the basic action within a
work of fiction. • In a strongly plotted story, the events
usually follow this pattern: a conflict or problem is
established; complications arise from the conflict; a main
character takes decisive action, or the situation itself
brings about a climax; the conflict is resolved. • Modern
short stories and novels, however, frequently deviate
from this outline. One of the most common is a non-
plotted character sketch.

3. z
TERMS USED TO DESCRIBE THE PLOT
• CONFLICT • describes some problem or trouble within the
story. It frequently falls into one of the following categories: •
man vs. man • man vs. himself • man vs. nature • man vs.
society • man vs. supernatural
• RISING ACTION •describes the introduction of the conflict
and the resulting complications.
• CLIMAX •designates the moment of highest tension in the
story. It represents the moment when the outcome is
decided.
• FALLING ACTION •describes the falling off of intensity
within the story.
• DENOUEMENT •is a French word used to describe the final
resolution of details within the story. It is everything that
occurs after the climax.

4. z COMMON PLOT DEVELOPMENT STRUCTURE

5. z
COMMON LITERARY TECHNIQUES

6. z
FLASHBACK
is a literary technique used to
insert events out of the order of
their occurrence within a story.

7. z
FORESHADOWING
is a method used to hint of
events to come. It may be blatant
or merely implied.

8. z
OPEN ENDED
STORIES have outcomes which
leave the reader wondering about
the outcome.

9. z
STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS
a technique used to tell the story
as it might actually be heard
within a character's mind. It is
frequently rambling and
disjointed.