Elements of a Plot

Plot Diagram 

Overview

The Plot Diagram is an organizational tool focusing on a pyramid or triangular shape, which is used to map the events in a story. This mapping of plot structure allows readers and writers to visualize the key features of stories.

The basic triangle-shaped plot structure, representing the beginning, middle, and end of a story, was described by Aristotle.

 The following is an example of Plot Diagram

The Three Little Pigs

Exposition

Setting: A forest besides some plains. Summer ending Autumn coming.
Characters: Three pigs - 2 lazy, 1 hardworking

Rising Action

The Big Bad Wolf is introduced - wants to eat pigs. Wolf wants to eat pigs, chases 1st pig to his straw house and blows it down. Then he chases pig to second house and blows it down, and almost eats two pigs. Wolf gets hungrier and angrier. The wolf chases the first and second pig to the third pig's house and tries to blow it down.

Climax

The wolf climbs the third pig's house and tries to climb down chimney.

Falling Action

Characters learn lesson: 
     - Pigs learned who he laughs last laugh longest (Hard Work Pays Off)

Character/Setting is changed
     - Lesson learned, Rebuilt Houses and Wolf will not attack again.

Resolution

Because pigs built their houses of brick this time, they proved that they learned their lesson.


Point of View

I believe a Plot Diagram is useful and important to create a sequence of events from a story to a novel or movie. It is easier to understand, analyze and be organized with a structure of a text. A plot allows students to pick out major themes in the text, track changes to major characters over the course of the narrative.