Plot vs Theme

PLOT

&

THEME

How are plot and
theme different?

Sometimes, these two words can be confused. They
are very closely related, after all.
Here's the difference:

​

The plot is the order of events.

​

​Theme is the moral of the story, or
"THE MESSAGE"

PLOT

This is a very common type of plot:
Exposition: where the author starts to explain the
story, the characters are introduced, etc.
Inciting incident: where something happens that
causes the action in the story to rise.
Rising action: the events that follow the inciting
incident,
Dilemma: where the main character(s) have to make a
difficult decision/do something brave
Climax: where the action of the story has reached its
peak; example: an epic battle
Resolution/Denouement: all issues are resolved, and
life becomes normal again (so we think…)

Plot Elements, graphed:

The six elements of
plot:

Exposition

Inciting Incident

Rising Action or Progressive Complications

Dilemma

Climax

Resolution/ Denouement

Plot, continued

Plot is the main events of a play, novel, movie, or
similar work, devised and presented by the writer
as an interrelated sequence.

Example:

“The plot of this book consists almost entirely of a
man and woman falling in love. They meet through
friends and don’t like each other at first, but soon,
their interest grows. The woman plans to move to
France, and he confesses his love before she leaves.
They get married in France.”

Also known as: storyline, story

• chain of events

• scenario

Think of plot as a
mountain.

Plot is a sequence of events
in a story in which the main
character is put into a
challenging situation that
forces them to make
increasingly difficult
choices, driving the story
toward a climactic event
and resolution.

Theme

In books, history, life, music, and movies, we can find universal themes, which are ideas that apply to anyone, anywhere, regardless of cultural differences.

For example, everyone in the world can relate to a theme that includes the importance of family and friends.

​

​Theme is not a one- or two-word topic, but a complete thought that communicates the author’s message.

Theme

• A story can have one *OR MORE* themes!

• A theme is “the moral of the story!”

• Themes can be interpreted differently,

depending on the individual, but always
based upon evidence from the text!

For example, one person can say that the
theme in “Cars” is finding the place where you
belong outside of your comfort zone. Another
person may think that it is also about how
fame is often not all it is chopped up to be!
Or there is more to life than just winning
trophies!

All of these are correct
interpretations of the theme!

Examples of theme

can include:

• an individual’s struggle toward

understanding, awareness,
and/or spiritual enlightenment;

• the tension between the ideal

and the real;

Examples of theme
can include:

an individual’s or a community’s
confrontation with nature;

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

• the conflict between

human beings and
advancements in
technology/science

• the impact of the past

on the present;

Ex Machina, 2014

• the struggle for equality;

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

the inevitability of fate
(for example: two people who were
fated to meet);

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

Themes in
Music

In TLC’s song “Waterfalls”
(1995), the lyrics offer
cautionary tales of the allure of
street life.

Daryl McIntosh, Albumism
The lyrics caution about
chasing after waterfalls, or
having too big of an ambition,
and moving too fast.

Themes in
Music

TLC’s song “Waterfalls”

Themes in
Music

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s song, “Simple Man,” has a deep
meaning. It was written by band members
Ronnie Van Zant and Gary Rossington. Van Zant’s
grandmother and Rossington’s mother passed
away around the same time. Rossington said,
“We just put down in a song what our mama or
grandma had said to us. They really wrote it. We
just played it.”

Themes in
Music

What do you think is the theme of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s
song, “Simple Man?”

And be a simple kind of man/
Oh, be something you love and
understand/
Baby, be a simple kind of man/
Oh, won't you do this for me son,
if you can?

Shortest story ever?

“Knock” by Frederic Brown

(only 17 words)

The last man on Earth sat alone in a
room.

There was a knock on the door. . .

Does it
have a
plot?
Does it
have a
theme?

That’s the difference

between plot and theme!
Now, let’s preview IXLs B.1 & B.2!