Plot

Plot in literature, theater, movies

According to Aristotle's Poetics, a plot in literature is "the arrangement of incidents" that (ideally) each follow plausibly from the other. The plot is like the pencil outline that guides the painter's brush. An example of the type of plot which follows these sorts of lines is the linear plot of development to be discerned within the pages of a bildungsroman novel.

Related Topics:
Aristotle - Literature - Bildungsroman

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Aristotle notes that a string of unconnected speeches, no matter how well-executed, will not have as much emotional impact as a series of tightly connected speeches delivered by imperfect speakers.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The concept of plot and the associated concept of construction of plot, emplotment, has of course developed considerably since Aristotle made these insightful observations. The episodic narrative tradition which Aristotle indicates has systematically been subverted over the intervening years, to the extent that the concept of beginning, middle, end are merely regarded as a conventional device when no other is at hand.

Related Topics:
Episodic - Narrative

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This is particularly true in the cinematic tradition where the folding and reversal of episodic narrative is now commonplace. Moreover, many writers and film directors, particularly those with a proclivity for the Modernist or other subsequent and derivative movements which emerged during or after the early 20th century, seem more concerned that plot is an encumbrance to their artistic medium than an assistance.

Related Topics:
Modernist - 20th century

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The main plot in a story is called the A-Plot. The B-Plot is another independent plot within the same story.

Related Topics:
A-Plot - B-Plot

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

ELEMENTS OF A PLOT IN A STORY

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• 1.Initial situation - the beginning. It is the first incident that makes the story move.
• 2.Conflict or Problem - goal which the main character of the story has to achieve.
• 3.Complication - obstacles which the main character has to overcome.
• 4.Climax - highest point of interest of the story.
• 5.Suspense - point of tension. It arouses the interest of the readers.
• 6.Denoument or Resolution - what happens to the character after overcoming all obstacles and reaching his goal.
• 7.Conclusion - the end of the story.