Elements of Creative Nonfiction: Plot

Lesson 3 in Creative Nonfiction (SHS CN12)

1. Module 1 - Lesson 3 PLOT ELEMENTS OF CREATIVE NONFICTION:

2. TOPIC What is the difference? THEME

3. What is a plot? 01 Plot is the order of events in a story. Elements of Creative Nonfiction

4. Plots must present an event, action, or turning point that creates conflict or raises a dramatic question, leading to subsequent events that are connected to each other as a means of “answering” the dramatic question and conflict. The arc of a story’s plot features a causal relationship between a beginning, middle, and end in which the conflict is built to a climax and resolved in conclusion .

5. A Christmas Carol “ I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. ” Elements of Creative Nonfiction by Charles Dickens Charles introduces the protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge, who is problematic in his lack of generosity and participation in humanity–especially during the Christmas season. This conflict results in three visitations by spirits that help Scrooge’s character and the reader understand the causes of the conflict. The climax occurs as Scrooge’s dismal future is foretold. The above passage reflects the second chance given to Scrooge as a means of changing his future as well as his present life. As the plot of Charles’ story ends, the reader finds resolution in Scrooge’s changed attitude and behavior.

6. Some elements that influence plot are genre, setting, characters, dramatic situation, theme, etc. , but there are two general types of plot: 1. LINEAR (beginning-middle-end) 2. NON-LINEAR (start with the climax or the ending) “ in medias res ” - stories that begin with the climax

7. common plots: tragedy unfortunate ending comedy happy or peaceful ending journey of the hero 1. realization, and 2. a situation reversal rebirth character's transformation to bad to good, or to becoming better

8. rags-to-riches from being poor to successful good VS. evil protagonist versus antagonist common plots: voyage/return character sets out to experience life and comes back with wisdom gained

9. Aristotle’s Plot Structure beginning - capture the reader’s attention, introduce the characters, setting, and the central conflict. middle - movement toward the conclusion of the story end - brings about conclusion and resolution of the conflict

10. 1. Exposition - the start of the story, where the author introduces the characters and the conflict. 2. Rising Action - the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that leads to the climax. 3. Climax / Turning Point - the most intense moment (either mentally or in action) that decides whether the conflict will be resolved or not. 4. Falling Action - the conflicts and complications begin to be resolved. 5. Resolution / Denouement - the conclusion, the untangling of events in the story. Freytag's Pyramid

11. Two households, both alike in dignity (In fair Verona, where we lay our scene), From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life; Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife. The fearful passage of their death-marked love And the continuance of their parents’ rage, Which, but their children’s end, naught could remove, Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage; The which, if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare In the prologue of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, the arc of the plot is told–including the outcome of the story.

12. Venus Venus has a beautiful name and is the second planet from the Sun. It’s terribly hot there Jupiter It’s the biggest planet in the Solar System. It’s also the fourth-brightest object in the sky Through just six words, the plot of this story has a beginning, middle, and end that readers can identify. In addition, the plot allows readers to interpret the causality of the story’s events depending on the manner in which they view and interpret the narrative.

13. Practice plotting a story using Freytag's Pyramid.

14. Big numbers catch your audience’s attention “A Lesson in Giving” Many years ago, I worked as a transfusion volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little three year old girl who was suffering from a disease. The little girl needed blood from her five-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease. This boy had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness and was the only hope for his sister. The doctor explained the situation to the little brother, and asked if the boy would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate only for a moment before he took a deep breath and said, “Yes, I will do it if it will save my sister.” As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, seeing the colour returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the nurse beside him and asked with a trembling voice, “When will I start to die?” The young boy had misunderstood the doctor and thought he had to die to save his sick sister. ***

15. Do you have any questions? Thanks! Elements of Creative Nonfiction