PLOT STRUCTURE FREAK THE MIGHTY LEARNING TARGET I

PLOT STRUCTURE FREAK THE MIGHTY

LEARNING TARGET • I can describe how plot episodes fit into the overall structure of the story.

WHAT IS PLOT? • Plot - The main events of a story

PLOT EPISODES • Every plot has many episodes to it. • Think of it like a TV show. • Sometimes one chapter can be considered an episode, but some episodes span over multiple chapters if it’s still the same scene.

FREAK THE MIGHTY PLOT EPISODES • First Episode: Max meets Freak in flashback • Second Episode: Freak moves back in to Max’s neighborhood • Third Episode: Freak hangs out in Max’s basement • Fourth Episode: Max goes to Freak’s house for dinner. • Etc. , Etc.

EXPOSITION • Beginning of the book • Characters are introduced • Setting is explained • Main conflict is introduced • Example: The beginning of Freak the Mighty The beginning of Harry Potter

RISING ACTION • Exciting events where the main character keeps facing obstacles and trying to overcome them. • Stories need some sort of conflict to be interesting. • The main character can’t just get what he/she wants right away, because the story would be boring, and really short.

CLIMAX • When the main conflict is beginning to be resolved • Usually most exciting part of the story • Example: In superhero movies, this is when the hero and villain fight for the last time.

FALLING ACTION • Events after the climax that lead to the very end of the story • Story slows down dramatically • We need falling action in a story to lead the reader toward a satisfying ending.

RESOLUTION • Conflicts are resolved and the story concludes.

• Kim was angry at her brother Brandon for stealing her peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from the fridge before school. To teach him a lesson, she loaded hers with hot sauce. Sure enough, at lunch, Brandon’s eyes began watering and he asked her, “What did you do to this sandwich? ” “Teach you a lesson!” she replied. Brandon never stole another sandwich again. • In this example, the exposition explains that Kim is angry at her brother for stealing her lunches. The rising action occurs when she plans to teach him a lesson. At the climax of the story, he eats the sandwich and discovers what she’s done. The falling action is when she reveals what she’s done. Finally, the resolution occurs when we learn that Brandon will never again steal another sandwich. This ties up the story and notifies the reader of exactly how it ends.

LEARNING TARGET • I can describe how plot episodes fit into the overall structure of the story.