Question

In one hundred words or less, list the five elements of a short story plot and briefly explain what they are.

Answer 1

The five elements of a short story plot are the following: exposition, complication/ incident, rising action, climax, falling action.

Exposition is the introduction of the story, when the characters and the setting are presented for the first time.

Complication/ incident is the main conflict of the story.

Rising action is the part of the story when the action begins.

Climax is the point of the highest action and it is also the turning point of the story.

Falling action comes after climax and it is the point when resolution of the main conflict takes place.

Answer 2

Exposition: This  gives information about the setting. Time, place , characters and any background information the writer considers necessary for the reader will be inserted in this part of the story plot.

Climax: This is the part of the story that tells about the conflict. This is the moment with the highest peak of tension.

Rising Action: This includes the events that lead to the climax. It comes after the exposition and before the climax.

Falling Action: This comes after the climax. Tension is released.

Complicated Incident: This is an event that gets in the way of the main characters. The protagonists have to overcome all the obstacles to achieve their goal. A complicated incident will certainly lead to the climax. There may be other complicated incidents in the story to make it more interesting.