This document provides an introduction to plot structure and analysis. It discusses the key elements of plot, including exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, and resolution. It also provides questions to consider when analyzing the plot of a story and examples from well-known films to illustrate different plot concepts. The overall purpose is to help students understand plot and how to discuss it in their reaction and analysis essays.

1. How will IT ALL end?
An introduction to Plot

2. This lecture and the
React & Reflect Essay
In our first essay, you pick a piece from weeks 1-4 and
link your reactions to its plot, narration, point of view
or characters. You can choose the piece first and pair
it with an element, or choose an element you feel you
understand well and pick a suitable piece.
Fiction and plot go together well. As you read this
lecture think about plots in the stories we’ve read so
far. Maybe your essay will start to form.
Poems aren’t usually plotted, but it can be argued
that some longer ones do have a sort of plot, or at
least parts of a plot. Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven” for
example or Elizabeth Acevedos “Rat Ode.” Think
about it. I appreciate adventurous essays.
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 2

3. 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 eve 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 somehow survived being thrown off
that cliff. We argue with friends about who will sit on the iron throne. And even though
we know the Titanic WILL SINK every time we watch the movie, we’re riveted as two
characters we know so well lean over the bow looking straight down at the water.
Maybe, just this one time, if we keep watching, THE SHIP WON’T SINK.
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 3
What’s going to
happen?! Plot -- the
backbone of story
telling.

4. Main Bonus
Point Opp:
Plot Analysis
For 20-25 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
spread over this lecture, and cover
anything else you feel is important or
interesting. Send your answers in by
email. 20 points any time. 25 points if
same week as lecture posted.
When turning in Bonus Point
opportunities, tell me what you’re
sending. I offer many and it helps to
know what I’m looking at. 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 4

5. 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?
5

6. “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 soon
is year nine? The plot has begun.

7. Plot
moves
the story
forward
 Exposition – We meet the characters, their situations, and
usually a time and place. Usually but not always at the start.
Might be in a flashback. Plants the seeds of a coming
conflict.
 Foreshadowing – At any time before the climax, hints are
given about what is to come. In Deadpool 2, the hero
comments on the heavy-handed foreshadow.
 Inciting incident – Something, or someone, happens and the
characters’ situation is knocked off balance. They run to or
from something. They’re motivated.
 Rising action – As the characters move, conflicts and
problems build tension and reveal who they really are. 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. Or not. We hope not (if we
care about the characters).
 Falling action – Questions resolved after the climax. The
cool down time, the big wedding. Usually short.
 Conclusion or Resolution – We see the characters in their
new situation, sometimes a reversal of their starting
situation. Can you think of a film that ends with a reversed
situation? Send me title, plot summary and your critique of
the ending for 10 Bonus Points.
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 7

8. Exposition
Exposition should give readers/viewers enough information to know what’s going
on but not so much that the going never gets going. In the short story “All Summer
in a Day” Bradbury doesn’t explain why and how people are living on Venus. That’s a
“whole ‘nother story” as a story teller might say. 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.
Pieces set in distant or imaginary places often need more exposition. In Black
Panther, for example, we need basic info about vibranium and how all that
amazing suit works. Luckily, T'Challa's sister Shuri likes explaining the science
behind her new inventions. Notice the bit of exposition/explaining about the suit
and kinetic energy slipped into this action scene.
In some movies a voice-over may tell 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, and how. That the video is for “customers” of the vile process makes it
more plausibly detailed. And creepy.
Main Bonus Points Plot Analysis: 1) 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 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. Now. And 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). A
house guest arrives, a husband needs
money for his sick wife’s medicine, the
sun comes out on Venus for the first
time in years, a space ship appears in
the sky, Santa’s reindeer get sick, the
virus escapes the lab, someone
inherits a million dollars but to get the
will says they have to ______
[something really hard].
Main Bonus Points Plot Analysis: 2) 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 the chaos
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 been refusing to speak to him, 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.
Main Bonus Points Plot Analysis: 3) 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. 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
for 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.
Main Bonus Points Plot Analysis: 4) 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 one list of heavily plotted movies.
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 12

13. 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
Main Bonus Points Plot Analysis: 5 & last) 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 science-guy Jeff Goldbloom character is re-united with his estranged
wife, and the Will Smith character is thanked by the president.

14. 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 may discuss plot twists
that worked well and others that felt
contrived. Where do you stand on the
ending of The Sixth Sense?
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 14

15. TMU
(The
Marvel
Universe)
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 15
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 and enemies to
achieve their destiny.
For up to 10 Bonus Points, send an
email about a fictional character who
inspires you. What obstacles and
conflicts do they overcome? What
does their journey reveal about their
character, and about human (or
superhuman) nature? How are you
like this character?

16. A
Thought
about
Plot
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 16
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 has put all of us 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 reach for our goals and dreams.

17. Plot
Questions to
help with a
React &
Reflect Essay
 Did this piece make you wonder How will this turn out? Did
you feel curious, tense? Then it’s a good piece to pair with
plot.
 How well did the piece fit in any needed exposition? Too
much info and background, too little?
 Is there not much action but still some type of suspense for
you? Great. Explain that.
 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? Anything
foreshadow that?
 Is there lots of action but no real suspense? Weak plot? Feel
free to be a critic. Sometimes an oppositional, sort of
grouchy stance makes writing easier.
 What obstacles did the main character overcome?
 Are obstacles & conflicts more internal (as in “Cathedral,”) or
external (as in “The Veldt”). 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 “Rat Ode” or another poem we’ve studied have a kind
of plot? Did it hold your interest not just with the language
and force of the delivery, but with what’s happening? If so,
could be a good essay. I like risk-taking writers.
Also see “Questions about Plot” on page 55-56.
You could structure your essay on those questions.
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 17

18. Plot
Questions
to help with
a Compare
& Contrast
Essay
(essay #2)
 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?
 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, in your opinion?
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L 18

19. Movie Night soon? - Earn Bonus Points
Introduction to Plot. ENGL 151L
Use this graph 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? Your work and thinking on this Bonus Opp could go into extending
essay 1 or 2, if you can see ways to connect this movie with your essay piece(s).
19