Advanced Plot Worksheet

I developed this material for my eighth graders.  They have already learned  the basics of Plot Structure, Character, and Theme.  The purpose of this worksheet is to provide a format for detailed plot analysis which students may use in high school.  Obviously, teacher input will vary, depending on the grade level of the student.  I expect to give my eighth graders notes in this format; in an eleventh grade class, I would expect the research for this material to come from the kids.

Once again, for teachers who may wish to borrow this material: it is dedicated to the memory of Irwin Abrams, my mentor who led me through the task of teaching literature from a structural viewpoint in my salad years of the seventies.

Title: (Correctly Punctuated and Capitalized, Please.)
Date and Place of Publication:
Historical Period of Publication:
                    (What historical events or social attitudes may have influenced the author?)
Author:
Span of Author's Life: (Years of birth and death)
Overview of Author's Ideas:
                        (Sketch themes from the authors works, including names of other books)

I. SITUATION:
          A: Place
          B: History and Description of Place
          C: Time period of the events in the story
          D: Historical period in which the story takes place
                                                     (including related specific historical events)
          E: Characters (Include name, identification, character type, and 
                                                            motivations)

II. CONFLICT: (What must the protagonist do?)

III. EVENTS WHICH INTENSIFY THE CONFLICT:

IV. CLIMAX: (What irreversible decision does the protagonist make to end the 
                                              conflict?)

V. TURNING POINT (RESOLUTION):
          A: Events which follow the climax
          B: Themes (Show how they are stated or implied by events in the story)

VI. DENOUEMENT: (Final, often ironic, turn of events.)

VI. PERSONAL CONCLUSIONS: (Your own ideas about the value of 
                                  the book)


Click here for a sample Advanced Plot Worksheet on The Pearl

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