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Is a statement in which the speaker's words are incongruous with the speaker's intent.

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Is the irony of something happening that is very different to what was expected.

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Plot-the story line or order of events in a book, play, or movie.

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It is the background information on the characters and setting explained at the beginning of the story

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In our earlier post on the questions to consider while Plotting, we briefly spoke to you about what plotting entails when you are writing a novel. In this five-part series on the structures of plots we bring to you what goes into plotting and why it is an extremely important literary element.
The plots of traditional stories are believed to follow a certain pattern. German playwright and novelist, Gustav Freytag is credited with analyzing the structures of stories. He proposed that the plot of story goes through the following dramatic arcs:

The same can represented as a pyramid

In this first post we talk to you about the first dramatic arc - Exposition and six ways to write an effective exposition. In subsequent posts, we will demystify the other arcs.

Structure of Plots - Part 1. What is Exposition?

Exposition is introducing your reader to your story. It's saying, "Hello Reader, meet my character" or "Hello Reader, here's that haunted house where everything is going to happen."
Exposition comprises of the choices you make, as a writer, to set the scene and initiate readers to your story. It is about conveying intitial and necessary information.

6 WAYS TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE EXPOSITION

A. EXPOSITION THROUGH CONFLICT

Excerpt from The Trial by Franz Kafka
Someone must have been telling lies about Josef K., he knew he had done nothing wrong but, one morning, he was arrested.

Introducing your reader to the conflict, taking him/her straight to the story is an effective way. You don't have to reveal anything more than what the conflict is. It serves as hook. In the above instance, the story begins with the main character's arrest. Two policemen turn up at his home and arrest him. We are not told why he is being arrested and the character himself has no idea! Spoiler alert: The reason for his arrest is never revealed yet, as the story progresses, so much intrigue has been created that readers keep reading.

B. EXPOSITION THROUGH DIALOGUE

Exceprt from Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
(Spoken by Dumbledore to Harry)
"Voldemort... took your blood believing it would strengthen him. He took into his body a tiny part of the enchantment your mother laid upon you when she died for you. His body keeps her sacrifice alive, and while that enchantment survives, so do you and so does Voldemort's one last hope for himself."

Notice how important information is introduced through dialogue. This is an extremely effective way because characters constantly interact with each other. So, if you encounter a situation where you need to provide information but are unable to do so in narration simply because it feels out of place, it might be an option to create an opportunity for dialogue and to then reveal the information through dialogue.

C. EXPOSITION THROUGH THOUGHTS / SOMETHING A CHARACTER HAS TO SAY ABOUT HIS/HER LIFE

Excerpt from Jane Eyre byCharlotte Bronte
There was no possibility of taking a walk THAT DAY. We had been wandering, indeed, in the leafless shrubbery an hour in the morning; but since dinner (Mrs. Reed, where was no company, dined early) the cold winter wind had brought with it clouds so sombre, and a rain so penetrating, that further out-door excerise was now out of the question.
I was glad of it: I never liked long walks, especially on chilly windy afternoons: dreadful to me was the coming home in the raw twilight, with nipped fingers and toes, and a heart saddenned by the chidings of Bessie, the nurse, and humbled by the consciousness of my physical inferiority to Eliza, John and Georgina Reed

This way is effective when you want your readers to understand the state of mind of your character. Jane Eyre was treated very badly by people she called family and she was in a fragile state of mind for the longest time. So if a character's state of mind or being is central plot point you could consider this sort of exposition. This story is often considered the original coming-of-age story.

D.EXPOSITION THROUGH CHARACTER INTRODUCTION

Excerpt from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
"You don't know about me, without you have read a book by the name of 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,' but that ain't no matter. That book was made by a Mr. Mark Twain, and he told the truth, mainly.

Now don't we like this character? J Of course we do. With an attitude like that? So, go ahead and introduce your readers to your character's spunk! That's a great way.

E. EXPOSITION THROUGH KEY BACKGROUND INFORMATION (THROUGH NARRATION)

Excerpt from The Emperor's New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen
Many years ago there lived an emperor who loved beautiful new clothes so much that he spent all his money on being finely dressed. His only interest was in going to the theater or in riding about in his carriage where he could show off his new clothes. He had a different costume for every hour of the day. Indeed, where it was said of other kings that they were at court, it could only be said of him that he was in his dressing room!

I've chosen a children's story told in a traditional manner to make my point, the point being that good old narration with the key facts is also a great way to bring about an effective exposition. Good narration never goes out of fashion.

F. EXPOSITION THROUGH LETTERS, NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS, MEDICAL PRESCIRPTIONS, BILLS,

NEWSPAPER CLIPPING From The Blind Assassin by Margret Atwood
The Toronto Star, May 26, 1945 QUESTIONS RAISED IN CITY DEATH SPECIAL TO THE STAR A coroner's inquest has returned a verdict of accidental death in last week's St. Clair Ave. fatality. Miss Laura Chase, 25, was travellingwest on the afternoon of May 18 when her car swerved through the barriers protecting a repair site on the bridge and crashed into the ravine below, catching fire. Miss Chase was killed instantly. Her sister, Mrs. Richard E. Griffen, wife of the prominent manufacturer, gave evidence that Miss Chase sufferred from severed headaches affecting her vision. In reply to questioning, she denied any possibility of intoxication as Miss Chase did not drink...
This epistolary tool helps to provide a lot of information. Notice how all necessary information about a character's death, reactions to that death from close relatives as well as details of close relatives and the death itself is presented. Diary excerpts, letters etc too are known to be used.

REMEMBER!

Expositions usually include:

1. Who your characters are: Can include names, Profession, a particular like or dislike/ character traits - things that will help your readers get familiar with your character. Remember that your readers are following the trajectory of your characters. They will be rooting for your main character (usually) and good expositions help create good first impressions

2. Where they are : A sense of the place where something is happenning or where something is going to happen

3. Time: You remember the famous, "Once Upon a time" opening line? Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children too begins in a similar way. Consider this:

I was born in the city of Bombay...once upon a time. No, that won't do, there's no getting away from the date. I was born in Doctor Narlikar's Nursing Home on August 15th, 1947. And the time? The time matters, too. Well then: at night. No, it's important to be more... On the stroke of midnight, as a matter of fact. Clock-hands joined palms in respectful greeting as I came.

As you can see from the opening lines, readers are introduced to a character who talks about his birth, his place of birth and time of birth. Almost immediately we know that this is very important information ("there is no getting away from the date..." and "time matters, too") and get a sense of the setting - the day of Indian Independence is very clear from the above lines.
Novels have longer expositions than short stories owing to sheer length and the fact novesl require greater time investments from readers than short stories. Expositions of novels might run into a few pages.
(Note: In the above example, I used only the opening lines to make my point. This is not the entire exposition from the novel.)

WORD OF CAUTION WHILE USING EXPOSITION

Writers sometimes instinctively tend to give too much information to the readers. The rule of the thumb is, "act first, explain later." Get the action going, you don't have to explain everything! Invariably there will be plenty of opportunity to explain why something was done. Don't turn exposition into an information dump!
Are there other great ways to write an effective exposition? Let us know by way of a comment!

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6 Ways to write an effective Exposition (with examples) - Booksoarus

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In our earlier post on the questions to consider while Plotting, we briefly spoke to you about what plotting entails when you are writing a novel. In this five-part series on the structures of plots we bring to you what goes into plotting and why it is an extremely important literary element.

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The rising action is the second of six essential plot elements, which comes right after the opening of a story, otherwise known as the exposition

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You may have heard the term falling action when discussing elements of plot. But what does it mean, and why is it important in storytelling? Keep reading to learn all about falling action and its purpose in a story's plot.

falling action metaphor roller coaster

Definition of Falling Action

Falling action refers to the events that follow the climax of a story. While rising action builds tension throughout the story, falling action decreases that tension. It leads to the character's ultimate resolution.

Falling Action Within the Plot Structure

If you're familiar with basic plot structure, you know that it looks like a mountain. Along the lines of the mountain are the five basic parts of a story plot:

Introduction - The writer establishes the setting and characters, and sets up the conflict to come.

Rising Action -A sequence of events in the plot that create more conflict for the main character and lead up to the climax.

Climax - The most exciting and important moment in the story; the character faces their main conflict and determines their fate.

Falling Action -Events that follow the climax but don't yet bring resolution to the main character.

Resolution (or denouement) -Brings resolution to the conflict and either relief or tragedy to the main character.

Purpose of Falling Action

It's tempting to end a story very quickly after reaching the climax, skipping the falling action entirely. But falling action has a very important purpose in a story's plot. Here are some reasons why including falling action is a good idea when telling a compelling story.

Moving Toward Resolution

Characters use falling action to settle into whatever has changed in the climax, and to slowly work their way to resolving internal and external conflicts. A story without a resolution is not satisfying - and a resolution that comes immediately after a climax doesn't feel genuine. Falling action may include exciting moments, but they should not be as important or exciting as the climax itself.

Deescalating Tension

Like the story's characters, an audience needs a moment to regroup and assess what has just happened in a tense climax. Falling action provides an opportunity for reflection and evaluation before moving on to the story's resolution. Writers should not introduce new conflicts in this section of the plot, as the action is meant to fall.

Balancing Rising and Falling Action

Keeping a balance between rising and falling action is key to an even story. A story with too much rising action may make their readers impatient for a climax, while too much time between a climax and resolution tends to drag and bore their audience. A well-written story includes more rising action than falling action, but not too much (or too little) of either.

Examples of Falling Action

Think of your favorite book or movie, and consider its climactic moment. What happened next? That's the story's falling action. Check out these examples of falling action in film and literature:

Cinderella

In the classic fairy tale "Cinderella," the rising action leads up to Cinderella attending a ball, where she loses her slipper. The tension goes up when the prince must search the kingdom to find the slipper's owner. At the story's most climactic moment - Cinderella's turn to try the slipper - the story reaches its highest tension. The prince's recognition of Cinderella begins the story's falling action, leading to its resolution: their wedding and happily ever after.

The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) ended with serious questions about Luke Skywalker's father. In The Empire Strikes Back(1980), the story's rising action brings Luke through Jedi training and into a battle with Darth Vader - who, in the movie's climax, reveals himself to be Luke's father. Everything that happens after that iconic moment, including Luke's rescue by Leia and Lando Calrissian, is falling action, awaiting the trilogy's resolution in Return of the Jedi.

The Wizard of Oz

In both L. Frank Baum's novel The Wizard of Oz and its 1939 film adaptation, Dorothy follows a path that should lead her home. The events in her journey amp up the tension as the Wicked Witch of the West follows and torments Dorothy. However, Dorothy overcomes her antagonist by pouring water in the story's climax. Her resolution puts her at home where she belongs, but the events that connect the witch's downfall to Dorothy's return to Kansas make up the story's falling action.

Understanding the Elements of Storytelling

Identifying the parts of a plot can help you understand where a story is going. It can also help you determine whether you enjoy the story and assist when you're writing your own tales. For more inspiration, check out these examples of short stories.

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What Is Falling Action? Purpose in a Story's Plot

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You may have heard the term falling action when discussing elements of plot. But what does it mean, and why is it important in storytelling? Keep reading to learn all about falling action and its purpose in a story's plot. falling action metaphor roller coaster Falling action refers to the events that follow the climax of a story.

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Is the decisive moment, or turning point, at which the rising action of the play is reversed to falling action.

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Falling action refers to the period after the dramatic confrontation of the climax.

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The end of the story.

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The time and place of a story or play.

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The protagonist works toward the central story goals, while the antagonist works against the goals.

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Story Elements - Conflict - Literacy Short Clips

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Internal conflict is when a character struggles with their own opposing desires or beliefs.

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External conflict refers to conflict between the main character and any external force, such as a villain, government, or nature.

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Man vs. Man is commonly seen in literature and modern storytelling and is a type of external conflict.

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Man vs. society is a type of conflict that is commonly used in fiction.

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Is an external struggle positioning the character against an animal or a force of nature

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Character vs Nature Storyboard by kristy-littlehale

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Character vs Nature Literary Conflict Example || In a conflict of Character vs. Nature, a character must face things beyond their control in the natural

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Is a type of literary conflict in which a character faces technology (such as a robot, a machine, or a mechanical failure) and must prevail against it.

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Is the main idea or underlying meaning a writer explores in a novel, short story, or other literary work.

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A writer's or speaker's choice of words

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The way in which linguistic elements (such as words) are put together to form constituents

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The emotional suggestions of a word, that is not literal.

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(ENGLISH) What are Denotation and Connotation? | #iQuestionPH

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Attitude a writer takes toward a subject, a character, or the audience.

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Mood is the atmosphere of the narrative. Mood is created by means of setting, attitude, and descriptions.

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Scene in a movie, play, short story, novel, or narrative poem that interrupts the present action of the plot to the flash backward and tell what happened at an earlier time.

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The use of clues to hint at events that will occur later in plot.

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Is the repetition of similar grammatical forms.

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Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something that the characters don't.

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The position from which something or someone is observed.

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The narrator is a person in the story, telling the story from their own point of view.

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A simile is a figure of speech that compares two separate concepts through the use of a clear connecting word such as “like” or “as.”

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Rhetoric refers to the study and uses of written, spoken and visual language.

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How to use rhetoric to get what you want - Camille A. Langston

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Means to appeal to the audiences' sense of reason or logic.

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Means to persuade an audience by purposely evoking certain emotions to make them feel the way the author wants them to feel.

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Is an argument based on the ethics or credibility of the person making the argument.

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Characterization is the description of a character's physical traits, point of view, personality, private thoughts, and actions.

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Direct characterization is a type of literary device used to tell conclusive details about a character to the reader with little or no ambiguity.

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Is a type of literary device that reveals details about a character without stating them explicitly.

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Is a type of character who remains largely the same throughout the course of the storyline.

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Is a character who undergoes significant internal change throughout the course of a story.

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Are two-dimensional in that they are relatively uncomplicated and do not change throughout the course of a work.

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Is deep and layered character in a story.