Exposition:

 

The part of the story, usually near the

beginning, in which the characters are

introduced, the background is explained, and the setting is described.

 

Rising Action:

 

The central part of the story during

which various problems arise after a conflict (knot) is introduced.

 

Climax:

 

The high point in the action of a story.

 

Falling Action:

 

The action and dialogue following

the climax that lead the reader into the story’s end.

 

Resolution:

 

The part of the story in which the

problems are solved and the action comes to a satisfying end.

 

Conflict:

 

A problem or struggle between two

opposing forces in a story. There are four basic conflicts:

 

Person Against Person: A problem between characters.

 

Person Against Self: A problem within a character’s own mind.

 

Person Against Society: A problem

betweena character and society, school, the law, or some tradition.

 

Person Against Nature: A problem between a character and some element of nature a blizzard, a hurricane, a mountain climb, etc.