V4 - Setting, Theme, Conflict, Plot Structure

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Literary devices

Setting - plot - character - conflict

V4D & V4E

2024-2025

At the end of this lesson you can...

1. Describe what the setting of a story is

2. Use a plot diagram to analyse the plot structure of a story

3. List and explain the 6 types of conflict

Why is the plot structure important?

Plot structure is not just used in literature, but also in storytelling, television and film.

Once you know plot structure, you can automatically organise something abstract into something that is concrete and makes sense. 

Setting

Setting = Time and place

Examples?

The setting affects the mood/atmosphere in a story.

Plot Structure

= all the events that make up (the main part of) a story.

All events relate to each other in a sort of pattern and this organisation has an effect on how the reader feels about the story or its characters. 

Before we continue, we need to revise "setting"...

What is the setting in a story?

1. A lesson being taught
2. When and where the story occurs
3. The events happening in the story
4. How the characters are described

Which of the following is an example of setting? (more than 1 answer possible)

1. A fight
2. A high school in 1987
3. Blue jacket
4. March

True or false: the setting can affect the character's mood in a story.

1. True
2. False

Types of Conflict

External Conflict

• Person against Nature
• Person against Supernatural
• Person against Society
• Person against Person
• Person against Technology

Internal Conflict

• Person against Self

What is an example of a Person against Nature Conflict?

1. Surviving a hurricane
2. Getting abducted by aliens
3. Having a fight with a friend
4. Getting stuck on a hill after a tsunami

Types of Conflict

External Conflict

• Person against Nature
• Person against Supernatural
• Person against Society
• Person against Person
• Person against Technology

Internal Conflict

• Person against Self

Back to plot structure

The plot structure consists of 6 smaller parts: 

1. exposition

(2. inciting incident)

3. rising action

4. climax

5. falling action

6. resolution.

Interest and suspense are built during which part of the story?

1. Exposition
2. Inciting Incident
3. Climax
4. Rising action