Summary
Spoiler alert: Most stories follow the same basic structure. A story's plot is the chain of events that drive the action and get us hooked. Strong plots keep readers guessing about what will happen next. But the rules for constructing them haven't changed much since ancient Greece. Back then, plays followed a basic three-part structure: beginning, middle, and end. A couple thousand years later, writers were still using this formula—but with a few new wrinkles. German writer Gustav Freytag broke the three steps into five, and organized them in the shape of a pyramid. Starting with the introduction of characters and setting in the exposition, a good story builds through rising conflict until it reaches a thrilling climax. Then it wraps up with a resolution that leaves readers or audiences feeling satisfied. Almost every plot can be mapped onto this pyramid—though some writers use techniques like flashbacks to play with the order of events. Ready to dissect all your favorite stories—or write your own? Press "play" to learn more about the many twists and turns of plot!
Viewer safety
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Plot:
- What is one new thing you learned about plot?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining plot.
- Draw or give one example of your own.