A plot is a series of related events in a narrative. In a plot, each event—apart from the final one—affects at least one other event. A simple plot may unfold in a straight line, while a complex plot may weave together several strands. A connected secondary strand is often called a subplot.
The phrase “and so” can help identify the causal links in a plot: one consequential event happens, and so another follows. Plot selects and emphasizes events that make a difference to what happens next.
All flashcards
What is plot?
Plot is the arrangement of related narrative events, especially events that affect one another through consequences and cause and effect.
What does “and so” mean in plot analysis?
It is a way to express a causal connection: one important event occurs, and so another event follows.
What is a subplot?
A subplot is a secondary strand of events interwoven with the main narrative.
Can a memorable scene be outside the plot?
Yes. A scene can be striking or emotionally powerful without directly influencing other events or advancing the action.
How can setting influence plot?
Setting shapes the circumstances, possibilities, and limitations in which characters act, and can therefore affect how events unfold and end.
Quiz questions
What did Aristotle consider essential to the unity of a well-formed play?Answer: A coherent whole action with a beginning, middle, and end.
Which sequence names the three acts in a common dramatic model?Answer: Set-up, confrontation, and resolution.
In Freytag’s five-part structure, what happens at the climax?Answer: A turning point changes the protagonist’s fate or the action’s direction.
In film and television, what does the term A-Plot identify?Answer: The storyline that drives the story and forces much of the action.
What characterizes character-driven dramatic technique?Answer: Events emerge from developed motivations and choices.
Based on the Wikipedia article Plot (narrative), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.