Plot, Conflict, and Setting
Analyze exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, internal and external conflict, and setting as forces that shape meaning.
A lesson of English 9, in Close Reading and Literary Foundations, about 10 minutes.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to map the plot structure of a narrative, identify internal and external conflicts, analyze how setting shapes character and theme, and explain how plot and conflict work together.
Plot Structure
A story's plot is the sequence of events. Most narratives follow a recognizable structure (Freytag's pyramid):
Exposition: introduces characters, setting, and the initial situation.
Rising Action: events that build tension and develop the central conflict.
Climax: the turning point — the moment of highest tension or most significant decision.
Falling Action: events that follow the climax; tension decreases.
Resolution (Denouement): the situation stabilizes; loose ends are tied (or deliberately left open).
Not all stories follow this perfectly — short stories may compress structure; some literary fiction deliberately disrupts expectations.
Conflict
Conflict is the central struggle that drives the plot.
Types of external conflict:
- Person vs. Person: protagonist struggles against another character
- Person vs. Nature: struggle against environmental forces
- Person vs. Society: individual against institutions, norms, laws
- Person vs. Technology/Machine: character against artificial systems
Internal conflict:
- Person vs. Self: psychological struggle — moral dilemmas, fear, desire, identity
Most sophisticated narratives involve both internal and external conflict simultaneously.
Example — Conflict Analysis
In "A Raisin in the Sun" (Lorraine Hansberry):
External: the Younger family vs. a racist society that limits their housing options (Person vs. Society).
Internal: Walter Lee struggles with his identity, pride, and the temptation to compromise his family's dream for financial gain (Person vs. Self).
These intertwine: the internal conflict is CAUSED by the external one.
Setting
Setting encompasses:
- Time: historical period, season, time of day
- Place: geographic location, type of environment
- Atmosphere (mood): the emotional tone created by setting details