FREE 10+ Plot Diagram Samples in MS Word | Pages | Google Docs | PDF

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What is a Plot Diagram?

A plot diagram is a pyramid-shaped tool used to organize parts of the story to analyze its content and its key features. It’s also a useful tool for writers to map out the events of the story. The pyramid-shaped structure of the plot diagram represents the beginning, middle, and end of a story. This concept was first conceptualized by was described by Aristotle and later modified by Gustav Freytag by adding a rising action and a falling action to the diagram.

How to Create a Plot Diagram?

These elements in the plot are identified as the highlights or major events in a story.  This where the story takes a big turn or progresses into another sequence of events. These elements are:

• Exposition: The beginning of the story. It is the part where the characters are introduced, the setting is described, and the conflict is established. This part is also where you show the normal lives of your characters before the conflict or problem happens which will change their daily activities or affect the characters either in a negative or positive way. Usually, the conflict that happens can also be described as an inciting incident.
• Rising Action: The rising action builds up the tension of the story for the climax. This is the part where the suspense of the conflict builds up and gets complicated. This part is also the largest part of the story. This is also where the dilemma takes place. A dilemma or crisis is a sub-element of the plot where the character is put in a difficult position to make a choice that would greatly affect the climax.
• Climax: This part is the most exciting and engaging part of the story. This is the part where the rising action has been working towards. All the outcomes of the decisions made by the characters are revealed.
• Falling Action: Once the excitement has faded away, the falling action now takes place. This part is where events happen after the climax and that will lead to the resolution of the story.
• Resolution: The resolution or denouement is where the story ends. It resolves the characters’ conflicts and issues and incorporates all the changes that happened to them in this part. Basically, this is the part where the story gives closure.

FAQs

Now that you are aware of what a plot diagram is, how it works, and how it is written, it’ll be easier for you to analyze a story in its different parts and it is also easier for you to write and organize your story. If you want to start practicing how to analyze a plot diagram, refer to our sample templates above. They are free to download and are also printable so you can download as many as you like!