Plot: Difference between revisions

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Latest revision as of 21:25, 13 August 2019

A fictional(ized) series of events that have some connection.

The quality of a Plot is often judged by how convincing that connection is established along the criteria of

cause and effect (physics),
emotional motivation (psychology) and
reason (logic and ethics).

Failure to meet those criteria results in a Plot Hole. If the first criterion is repeatedly violated, we have a Random Events Plot, the second criterion is not met if someone acts Out of Character, and a consistent failure to meet the third is called an Idiot Plot. Deus Ex Machina is a desperate Plot-advancing technique that does not quite link events in a story in a convincing manner but at least keeps it going.

Plots are usually driven by Conflict, which has a strong tendency to make stuff happen. According to Aristotle, Plot, together with Characters and Spectacle, is one of the six items present in any story. The Premise is often a laconic version of the core aspects of the main plot.

A Plot Point is an important event or state of affairs that the viewer or reader is required to be aware of in order to follow the Plot. An object or character whose only purpose is to drive the Plot (i. e. provide the connecting element between events) is called a Plot Device. Similarly, a Plot Coupon is an object that acts as a key to advance or resolve a Plot. In contrast to the Plot Device, it is actively and purposefully used (and often also sought out in the first place) by the characters to reach a goal, while a Plot Device doesn't necessarily require a character's volition to advance the Plot. See also MacGuffin and Magnetic Plot Device.

A popular definition of how a Plot as a whole should progress within the "running time" of a work is the succession of five acts: exposition, Rising Action, climax, falling action and resolution. However, a work of fiction can contain more than one Plot. This is called subplots or Plot Threads.

In some formats, the Plot can take a back seat to other aspects that are deemed more important. For these cases see No Plot, No Problem, Plot What Plot and Excuse Plot. Also bear in mind the Sliding Scale of Plot Versus Characters, for when character development overtakes the overall plot.

For a list of prefabricated Plots, see Plots. For basic, archetypal Plots, see The Seven Basic Plots, Ten Movie Plots and Master Plots.

Compare Consistency.

Please note: As one of the major Super Tropes, the concept of Plot is omnipresent. There's no need to list Plot as a Trope on any work's page or to list works here.

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-{{trope}}
+{{Useful Notes}}
 A fictional(ized) series of events that have some connection.
-The quality of a [[Plot]] is often judged by how convincing that connection is established along the criteria of
+The quality of a '''Plot''' is often judged by how convincing that connection is established along the criteria of
 * ''cause and effect'' (physics),
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 * ''reason'' (logic and ethics).
-Failure to meet those criteria results in a [[Plot Hole]]. If the first criterion is repeatedly violated, we have a [[Random Events Plot]], the second criterion is not met if someone acts [[Out of Character]], and a consistent failure to meet the third is called an [[Idiot Plot]]. [[Deus Ex Machina]] is a desperate [[Plot]]-advancing technique that does not quite link events in a story in a convincing manner but at least keeps it going.
+Failure to meet those criteria results in a [[Plot Hole]]. If the first criterion is repeatedly violated, we have a [[Random Events Plot]], the second criterion is not met if someone acts [[Out of Character]], and a consistent failure to meet the third is called an [[Idiot Plot]]. [[Deus Ex Machina]] is a desperate '''Plot'''-advancing technique that does not quite link events in a story in a convincing manner but at least keeps it going.
-[[Plots]] are usually driven by [[Conflict]], which has a strong tendency to make stuff happen. According to [[Aristotle (Creator)|Aristotle]], [[Plot]], together with [[Characters]] and [[Spectacle]], is one of the six items present in any story.
+[[Plots]] are usually driven by [[Conflict]], which has a strong tendency to make stuff happen. According to [[Aristotle]], '''Plot''', together with [[Characters]] and [[Spectacle]], is one of the six items present in any story.  The [[Premise]] is often a laconic version of the core aspects of the main plot.
-A [[Plot Point]] is an important event or state of affairs that the viewer or reader is required to be aware of in order to follow the [[Plot]]. An object or character whose only purpose is to drive the [[Plot]] (i. e. provide the connecting element between events) is called a [[Plot Device]]. Similarly, a [[Plot Coupon]] is an object that acts as a key to advance or resolve a [[Plot]]. In contrast to the [[Plot Device]], it is actively and purposefully used (and often also sought out in the first place) by the characters to reach a goal, while a [[Plot Device]] doesn't necessarily require a character's volition to advance the [[Plot]]. See also [[MacGuffin]] and [[Magnetic Plot Device]].
+A [[Plot Point]] is an important event or state of affairs that the viewer or reader is required to be aware of in order to follow the '''Plot'''. An object or character whose only purpose is to drive the '''Plot''' (i. e. provide the connecting element between events) is called a [[Plot Device]]. Similarly, a [[Plot Coupon]] is an object that acts as a key to advance or resolve a '''Plot'''. In contrast to the [[Plot Device]], it is actively and purposefully used (and often also sought out in the first place) by the characters to reach a goal, while a [[Plot Device]] doesn't necessarily require a character's volition to advance the '''Plot'''. See also [[MacGuffin]] and [[Magnetic Plot Device]].
-A popular definition of how a [[Plot]] as a whole should progress within the "running time" of a work is the succession of [[Act Break|five acts]]: ''[[Exposition|exposition]]'', ''[[Rising Action|rising action]]'', ''[[The Climax|climax]]'', ''falling action'' and ''resolution''. However, a work of fiction can contain more than one [[Plot]]. This is called subplots or [[Plot Threads]].
+A popular definition of how a '''Plot''' as a whole should progress within the "running time" of a work is the succession of [[Act Break|five acts]]: ''[[exposition]]'', ''[[Rising Action]]'', ''[[The Climax|climax]]'', ''falling action'' and ''resolution''. However, a work of fiction can contain more than one '''Plot'''. This is called subplots or [[Plot Threads]].
-In some formats, the [[Plot]] can take a back seat to other aspects that are deemed more important. For these cases see [[No Plot No Problem]], [[Plot What Plot]] and [[Excuse Plot]]. Also bear in mind the [[Sliding Scale of Plot Versus Characters]], for when character development overtakes the overall plot.
+In some formats, the '''Plot''' can take a back seat to other aspects that are deemed more important. For these cases see [[No Plot, No Problem]], [[Plot What Plot]] and [[Excuse Plot]]. Also bear in mind the [[Sliding Scale of Plot Versus Characters]], for when character development overtakes the overall plot.
 For a list of prefabricated [[Plots]], see [[Plots]]. For basic, archetypal [[Plots]], see [[The Seven Basic Plots]], [[Ten Movie Plots]] and [[Master Plots]].
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 Compare [[Consistency]].
-''Please note: As one of the major [[Super Trope|Super Tropes]], the concept of [[Plot]] is [[Omnipresent Trope|omnipresent]]. There's no need to list [[Plot]] as a [[Trope]] on any work's page or to list works here.''
+''Please note: As one of the major [[Super-Trope|Super Tropes]], the concept of '''Plot''' is [[Omnipresent Trope|omnipresent]]. There's no need to list '''Plot''' as a [[Trope]] on any work's page or to list works here.''
 {{reflist}}
@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 [[Category:Narrative Tropes]]
 [[Category:Plot]]
-[[Category:Trope]]