上海交通大学：《20世纪英美短篇小说选读》教学资源_plot（2）

【12】 Five Stages of Plot The plot of a traditional story is often conceived of as moving through five distinct sections or stages,as the following diagram shows: 3.Crisis 2.Complication 4.Falling action 1.Exposition 5.Resolution(denouement) Beginning Middle End 1.Exposition:the exposition is the beginning section in which the author provides the necessary background information,sets the scene,establishes the situation, and dates the action.It usually introduces the characters and the conflict,or at least the potential for conflict. 2.Complication:the complication,which is sometimes referred to as the rising action,develops and intensifies the conflict. 3.Crisis:the crisis (also referred to as the climax)is that moment at which the plot reaches its point of greatest emotional intensity;it is the turning point of the plot, directly precipitating the resolution. 4.Falling action:once the crisis,or turning point,has been reached,the tension subsides and the plot moves toward its conclusion. 5.Resolution:it is the final section of the plot which records the outcome of the conflict and establishes some new equilibrium.The resolution is also referred to as the conclusion or the denouement,the latter a French word meaning unknotting”or“untying

【1.2】 Five Stages of Plot The plot of a traditional story is often conceived of as moving through five distinct sections or stages, as the following diagram shows: 3. Crisis 2. Complication 4. Falling action 1. Exposition 5. Resolution (denouement) Beginning Middle End 1. Exposition: the exposition is the beginning section in which the author provides the necessary background information, sets the scene, establishes the situation, and dates the action. It usually introduces the characters and the conflict, or at least the potential for conflict. 2. Complication: the complication, which is sometimes referred to as the rising action, develops and intensifies the conflict. 3. Crisis: the crisis (also referred to as the climax) is that moment at which the plot reaches its point of greatest emotional intensity; it is the turning point of the plot, directly precipitating the resolution. 4. Falling action: once the crisis, or turning point, has been reached, the tension subsides and the plot moves toward its conclusion. 5. Resolution: it is the final section of the plot which records the outcome of the conflict and establishes some new equilibrium. The resolution is also referred to as the conclusion or the denouement, the latter a French word meaning “unknotting” or “untying