Overview
This lecture explains the elements of plot using Freytag's Pyramid and provides key literary terms, with examples from the film "The Killing Fields."
Elements of Plot
- Plot refers to the storyline or sequence of events in a narrative.
- The plot structure is commonly organized using Freytag's Pyramid.
- There are five main parts: Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
Freytag's Pyramid Structure
I. Exposition
- Introduces the characters and the setting.
- Example: Dith Pran, his driver, Schanberg, and Rockoff are introduced in "The Killing Field."
II. Rising Action
- The plot thickens with events that increase suspense and lead to the climax.
- Example: Khmer Rouge bombing cities, Lon Nol and US army losing, US Embassy evacuates, Cambodia falls into genocide.
III. Climax
- The most suspenseful, high point of the story.
- Example: Dith Pran does not escape to the USA, Pol Pot takes control, and Dith Pran is trapped.
IV. Falling Action
- Events leading to the resolution as problems begin to resolve.
- Example: Dith Pran tries to escape to Thailand; Schanberg searches for Dith Pran from New York.
V. Resolution
- The final outcome and problem resolution.
- Example: Vietnamese forces arrive, Dith Pran escapes to a refugee camp, and reunites with Schanberg.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Setting — the location or background where the story takes place.
- Plot — the sequence of events or storyline.
- Suspenseful — causing excitement or uncertainty about future events.
- Turning point — a crucial moment of change or crisis in the story.
- Protagonist — the leading or main character in a story.
- Antagonist — the opponent or adversary to the protagonist.
- Conflict — a serious argument or struggle within the story.
- Plot thickens — a phrase describing an increasingly complicated situation.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the five parts of Freytag's Pyramid.
- Identify these plot elements in other stories or films.
- Study the key terms and their definitions.