Learn about common features in narrative fiction.

1. Literary Terms
Elements of Plot

2. Plot
the sequence of events in a story

3. Basic Situation
setting
characters
conflict

4. Conflict
the struggle between opposing
characters or forces
What does the character want? What’s
keeping the character from getting what
he or she wants?

5. External Conflict
a character struggles against
something outside himself
person vs person
person vs several people
person vs nature

6. Internal Conflict
a character struggles against
something inside her mind

7. Foreshadowing
clues in a story that hint at future
events

8. Flashback
an interruption in the action of
the plot to tell what happened
at an earlier time

9. Series of Events /Complications
what the characters are doing to
try to resolve their conflicts

10. Climax
the story’s most emotional or
suspenseful moment
the conflict is decided one way or
another

11. Resolution
the last part of the story
loose ends are tied up
the story is closed

12. Climax Granny rides the wolf’s
PLOT OUTLINE motorcycle, catches him in
“Red Riding Hood” the handlebars & hurls him
into a thorn bush.
by John Leggett
Resolution
The wolf goes to
prison; Granny does
talk shows; Red
Wolf tries to eat
Event 3 lives happily ever
Red.
after.
Wolf races to Granny’s; he
Event 2 scares her away & takes
her place in bed.
Event 1 Red turns down the wolf’s offer to
ride his motorcycle.
Basic Situation:
Characters – Red, Wolf, Grandma
Setting – in the woods, Grandma’s house
Conflict – Red wants to give her granny cookies but the wolf wants to
eat Red.