Plot Elements

The very beginning of a story is called the introduction. It's where we learn about the characters, setting, and any important background information. Often called the exposition, this is the part of the story where we are introduced to the main conflict, or main problem.

• readers are asked to give their opinion.

• readers are invited to tell their own stories.

• readers learn about the main conflict.

• readers are encouraged to dislike the main characters.

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Every story has some kind of conflict-without it, you have no plot! The conflict is a struggle or problem that characters must face. The conflict usually takes place during all three phases-rising action, climax and falling action.

Read the following passage from a story.

Shivani pulled the last of the weeds from the garden bed and stood, putting her hand to her back. She was not done weeding, but she could see, at the very far edge of the sky, the fist of an angry storm cloud forming. She had a few more rows to work, but she wasn't sure if she would get to them before the rain began. Last week, there'd been a rainstorm, but it had been quiet and gentle, a welcome shower that encouraged the tomato plants and the eggplant blossoms to open. Maybe, her plants wouldn't survive.

Which statement best describes the conflict of this passage?

• A gardener is working in her garden.

• Spring rain makes crops grow.

• A storm cloud is forming in the sky.

• A coming storm could destroy a gardener's vegetables.

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There are four main types of conflict. Many stories will have more than one type of conflict.

1. Character vs. character. It's the most common type of conflict in a story. This is any kind of struggle between two or more people.
2. Character vs. nature: This is when a character must overcome some natural obstacle or condition.
3. Character vs. society: A struggle against society occurs when a character is at odds with a particular social force or condition produced by society, such as poverty, political revolution, a social convention, or set of values.
4. Characters vs. themselves: Within a character, parts of his or her personality may struggle for dominance. This conflict is usually about making a choice.

In the story "Gregory and the Bees," a man must fight off a swarm of bees that lives in his attic. Which type of conflict is this?

• character vs. character

• character vs. nature

• character vs. society

• character vs. self

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Rising action is the middle of the story, when the main character faces problems and may attempt to find solution. During this phase of the story, there's a building of interest of suspense, and the reader wonders, "What's going to happen next?"

Read the following story.

"Are you listening, Victor?"

Victor snapped to attention.

"I have no idea what Nora just said," he thought to himself. He nodded and smiled.

"Good," Nora pulled on her jacket. "I'm leaving you in charge for the day."

Victor looked around the empty kitchen, imagining all he could do with this new space. "Nora's a good boss, but she's too controlling, Victor thought. He looked at the list of tasks she'd left for him "Easy," Victor announced. He gathered up the f

• "Victor looked around the empty kitchen, imaging all he could do with this new space."

• "'Nora's a good boss, but she's too controlling,' Victor thought."

• "Good,' Nora pulled on her jacket. 'I'm leaving you in charge for the day.'"

• "Guess I'm making a bread now," he announced to the kitchen, laughing.

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