The Constitution of Plot
What is plot?
Plot is the meaningful manipulation of actions.
Cleanth Brooks & Robert. P. Warren
How are the actions manipulated?
1. Frame Narrative structure
2. Linear Narrative structure
3. Ring Narrative structure
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What is linear narrative structure?
1. a string
2. several units of actions(plot units)
Linear narrative structure--string of plot units
borrow necklace
lose
necklace
return
necklace
identify
necklace
1. Why did Mathilde want to borrow a necklace? what kind of inner impulse of her action?
2. Where did the author imply the authenticity of necklace?
3. Where did the passage thrill you most? why?
4. What is your impression of Mathilde's fate? How could you get ?
What specific devices did the author employ
to constitute the plot units?
devices for constituting the plot units
foreshadowing
twist
ups and downs
hint
devices
linear narrative
structure
specific narrative devices
dramatic
conflict
Dramatic Conflict
desire
obstacle
acts
denouement
Dramatic Conflicts
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conflicts
desire
obstacle
acts
denouement
PartI
PartII
PartIII
beauty and wealth
poor
marriage
suffer and weep
chance for
desire
show her beauty
no necklace
borrow
necklace
lose necklace
return necklace
no money
borrow money
work hard
identify
necklace
How strange life is, how fickle! How little is needed to ruin or to save!
climax
anticlimax
temporary
settling
???
chance for desire
be ruined
be saved
Extended thinking
1. What ruined Mathilde?And what saved Mathilde?
2. What did the author actually hope to reveal through plot constitution?
3. What actions would happen after the original ending?
Linear
narrative
structure
specific
narrative
devices
dramatic
conflict
Summary
desire
obstacle
acts
denouement
Homework
1. Try to analyze the trait of each character in the passage.
2. Contemplate the relationship among three elements in narration--character, plot and theme.