Plot Development

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

HAVO 

Plot Development

For your test, it is important to be able to describe what conflict of problem the main character has to solve in the story. The things that the main character does to solve the problem is called the plot development. 

By solving all the problems and obstacles, the person changes. So plot development is related to character development.

Plot Development

 Conflict

Conflict drives the story development. The conflict can come from:

1. Other people
2. Himself (feeling conflict inside, guilt, worry, etc)
3. Organisations/authority (police, doctors, etc)
4. Nature (natural disasters like floods, electricity shortages, lightening, earthquake, etc.)

            

 Conflict in literature?

It simply means that a story brings together two opposing forces, which we call a protagonist (one who struggles for) and an antagonist (someone or something that struggles against), and then develops and resolves the struggle between these two forces. 

Describing Conflict

How do we describe conflict? Follow these steps:

1. Who is the protagonist (on whom does this story have a maximum effect?)

2. What is the focus of the conflict?

3. Does the conflict change the protagonist?

4. How is the conflict resolved?

Theme

Theme can be defined as the generalization, stated or implied, that lies behind the narration of a specific situation involving specific individuals. 

The theme of a story should not be confused with a story’s subject. A theme is, rather, a statement about that subject. 

Finding the Theme

The theme is the message that the writer presents through the characters and the plot. Very often the theme is a generalization about life, or a lesson that the characters learn. The theme is usually not stated in the story, but the reader has to figure it out. Analyze the character and situation.  What does the way the solve the conflict say about life?

Young Adult Fiction

There is a very good chance that you have chosen a book which could be called Young Adult Fiction. But did  you know that this type of story is actually not very old? It only appeared about a hundred years ago. Before that, there were no books for teenagers.

Recently YA books have become even more popular on Booktok!

00:34

According to the film, do teenagers read more than they did previously in history?

1. yes
2. no
3. maybe
4. on the internet

01:34

When was the term 'teenager' used first to define a group a people?

02:20

What group of women got together in 1906 to promote reading among young people?

1. The Extraordinary League of Gentlemen
2. The Outstanding League of Women
3. The League of Extraordinary Librarians
4. Librarians for Strong Young Readers

03:50

What made the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling different from other YA books ?

00:35

What 3 book series have increased popularity of YA books?

01:40

When was the first YA novel 'Seventeenth Summer' published?

02:55

Which YA book was the first not to focus on the typical 'boy meets girl - fall in love - fight -make up' plot line?

1. Are you there God? It's me, Margret.
2. The Outsiders
3. The Big Friendly Giant
4. Catcher in the Rye

05:15

What does YA help us understand?

1. That teenagers are people too.
2. That teenagers have complex worlds.
3. That teenagers have strong fantasies.
4. That teenagers always have problems

Compare and Contrast

 You can describe the character development, the conflict, the plot development, and maybe even the theme. Here is a lesson on comparing and contrasting to stories. They are two short stories by the same author, but you can use the information for your speech.Good luck!