LF1 - Lesson: The Function of Plot in Long Fiction

A line describes the plot of a story from Beginning to Middle to End. Full image description on the page.The Function of Plot in Longer Fiction

How do novelists deliberately craft plot structures that develop the characters and themes of a literary work? Recall from the Short Fiction module that we diagrammed plot. Review the image and description to remind yourself of the basic details of plot before moving ahead.

Plot Diagram (image): a line that describes the plot of a story from Beginning to Middle to End. In the beginning, there is exposition. A conflict triggers rising action (the line going up), leading to a climax. After the climax, the line points down for the falling action and reaches a resolution for the end of the story.

The Role of Conflict in Creating Plot

Have you ever listened to a long-winded story with no point? Have you ever wondered why someone was telling you about everything they did in a day? Have you ever wondered why this isn’t a story?

It’s because you can’t have a story without...conflict. Conflict and its resolution are what separate a bunch of random events from an actual plot.  

Exploring the Use of Conflict in Creating Plot

First, let’s review how plots function:

  • A story, or narrative, is delivered through a series of events that relate to a conflict.
  • Events include episodes, encounters, and scenes in a narrative that can introduce and develop a plot.
  • The significance of an event depends on its relationship to the narrative, the conflict, and the development of characters.

You will notice that in two of the bullet points, the word conflict comes up.

Conflict is tension between competing values either within a character, known as internal or psychological conflict, or with outside forces that obstruct a character in some way, known as external conflict.

The Function of Conflict

Consider how conflicts function:

  • A text may contain multiple conflicts. Often two or more conflicts in a text intersect.
  • A primary conflict can be heightened by the presence of additional conflicts that intersect with it.
  • Inconsistencies in a text may create contrasts that represent conflicts of values or perspectives.

A novel’s length allows for multiple conflicts to emerge and can often create more intertwined and developed stories. Some authors have taken this to extremes such as Leo Tolstoy whose War and Peace has over 500 characters and at least four main plotlines that all converge at key points. Or consider the Marvel film world, The Harry Potter series, The Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games, or any other epic story sequence. Part of their appeal is the multiple conflicts that occur.

Practice Activity

Even a shorter novel like The Awakening and your choice novel selection has multiple plot lines.

For each of the key plot events from The Awakening, consider whether it is a primary or secondary conflict. Once you have considered each ask yourself how this conflict helps to develop Edna Pontellier as a character.

Notice that all of these secondary conflicts and events help to create the overall impression of Edna and make the world that Kate Chopin creates all the more realistic.

Final Reflection

There is more to writing about the plot than just listing the events of a novel in the order that they occur. Instead, try to understand the choices in plot development that the author has consciously made. Often these plot events create a sequence and pacing to the novel that establishes an intentional conflict on the part of the author. Remember that the overall goal of literary analysis is not only to recount what happens in a literary work, but also to also explain the author’s intention with these events.

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