Elements of Plot

[Music]

Hello! It's nice to see you again. In today's lesson, we will learn how to analyze the elements of the plot in a story. But before we begin, let's find out what you already know.

Quiz Time!

You will choose the letter of the correct answer:

1. It shows the highest point of interest, suspense, and turning point of the story:
   • a. conflict
   • b. climax
   • c. exposition
   • d. resolution

   Letter b. climax

2. It provides information about the characters and the setting:
   • a. climax
   • b. rising action
   • c. exposition
   • d. resolution

   Letter c. exposition

3. It shows how things end up in the story:
   • a. climax
   • b. exposition
   • c. resolution
   • d. rising action

   Letter c. resolution

4. It introduces and develops conflict or the main problem faced by the character:
   • a. exposition
   • b. falling action
   • c. resolution
   • d. rising action

   Letter d. rising action

5. It shows how the character solved the conflict or the problem:
   • a. climax
   • b. falling action
   • c. exposition
   • d. rising action

   Letter b. falling action

Understanding Plot

The plot is the chain of events that make up a story. In this sequence of events, we learn more about the characters, the setting, and how the story develops from beginning to end. Plots are typically made up of five main elements:

1. Exposition
2. Rising Action
3. Climax
4. Falling Action
5. Resolution

Plot Elements

This is a map of the plot of a story:

1. Exposition

The exposition provides information about the character and the setting. A character can be a person, an animal, or an imaginary creature that appears in a story, such as Elsa in Frozen, Simba in The Lion King, and Ariel in The Little Mermaid. The setting is the time and place in which the story unfolds; it may be imaginary or real.

2. Rising Action

After introducing the characters and setting, the story begins to create suspense as the character faces conflict. This part is called the rising action as it introduces and develops conflict—the main problem faced by the character.

3. Climax

The climax shows the highest point of interest, suspense, and the turning point of the story. This moment occurs when the main character reaches or fails to reach their goal.

4. Falling Action

The falling action occurs right after the climax when the main conflict of the story resolves. It shows how the character solved the conflict or problem and winds the story down towards its conclusion.

5. Resolution

The resolution reveals how things end up in the story.

Analyzing a Story: The Three Little Pigs

Now let us analyze the plot of the story of The Three Little Pigs:

Once upon a time, there were three little pigs. One pig built a house of straw, while the second pig built his house with sticks. They built their houses very quickly and sang and danced all day because they were lazy. The third little pig worked hard all day and built his house with bricks.

A big bad wolf saw the two little pigs while they danced and played and thought, "What juicy, tender meals they will make!" He chased the two pigs, and they ran and hid in their houses. The big bad wolf went to the first house and huffed and puffed and blew the house down in minutes. The frightened little pig ran to the second pig's house made of sticks. The big bad wolf now came to this house and huffed and puffed and blew the house down in hardly any time.

The two little pigs were terrified and ran to the third pig's house, built with bricks. The big bad wolf tried to huff and puff and blow the house down, but he could not. He kept trying for hours, but the house was very strong, and the little pigs were safe inside. He tried to enter through the chimney, but the third little pig boiled a big pot of water and kept it below the chimney. The wolf fell into it and died.

The two little pigs now felt sorry for having been so lazy. They too built their houses with bricks and lived happily ever after.

Plot Diagram of The Three Little Pigs

Now, let us do the plot diagram of the story:

Exposition

This is: Once upon a time, there were three little pigs. One pig built a house of straw, while the second pig built his house with sticks. Then, the third little pig built his house with bricks.

Rising Action

This includes the conflict where a big bad wolf saw the two little pigs and chased them. Then the big bad wolf went to the first house and blew it down, followed by the second house.

Climax

The turning point of the story is when the big bad wolf tried to enter through the chimney, but the third little pig boiled a big pot of water and kept it below the chimney.

Falling Action

The wolf fell into the big pot and died.

Resolution

Finally, the resolution reveals that the two little pigs felt sorry for having been lazy, and they built their houses with bricks too, living happily ever after.

Word Jumble Activity

Let's see if you can still remember the lesson with a fun word jumble. Rearrange the letters to find out which elements of the plot are being shown and described:

1. It introduces and develops conflict or the main problem faced by the character: Rising Action
2. It provides information about the character and the setting: Exposition
3. It shows the highest point of interest, suspense, and turning point of the story: Climax
4. It shows how things end up in the story: Resolution
5. It shows how the character solved the conflict or problem: Falling Action

Short Quiz: Analyzing Cinderella

Now, analyze what element of the plot each event represents in the story of Cinderella. Write your answer on a piece of paper:

1. The prince found the girl he was looking for, and Cinderella and the prince got married.
2. Once upon a time, there was a kind and beautiful girl named Cinderella who lived with her cruel stepmother and stepsisters.
3. Cinderella's stepmother would not let her try the slipper on, but the prince let her try it on, and her foot fit perfectly into it. Then she took out the other glass slipper from her pocket.
4. The prince realized that she was the beautiful girl he had danced with at the ball.
5. As she ran down the stairs, one glass slipper fell off, but Cinderella did not stop to pick it up.

Here are the Answers:

1. Resolution
2. Exposition
3. Climax
4. Falling Action
5. Rising Action

Congratulations! [Applause]

You can now analyze the plot in any story. See you in our next lesson! Thank you for watching! Don't forget to click the like button, share this video with your friends, and subscribe to my channel.