Plot (narrative)

Catharsis or katharsis is from the Ancient Greek word , , meaning 'purification' or 'cleansing', commonly used to refer to the purification and purgation of thoughts and emotions by way of expressing them. The desired result is an emotional state of renewal and restoration.

concept in narratology: presentation of a sequence of events in a narrative work

book by Aristotle

plot device

Mimesis (; , mīmēsis) is a term used in literary criticism and philosophy that carries a wide range of meanings, including imitatio, imitation, similarity, receptivity, representation, mimicry, the act of expression, the act of resembling, and the presentation of the self.

interjected scene that takes a narrative back in time

prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, by the very terms of the prophecy itself, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior

false clue that misleads or distracts attention away from a relevant or important question

thumb|The 1914 film serial The Perils of Pauline (1914 serial)|Perils of Pauline was shown in bi-weekly installments and ended with a cliffhanger. A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious situation, facing a difficult dilemma or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction or before a commercial break in a television programme. A cliffhanger is intended to incentivize the audience to return to see how the characters resolve the dilemma, or to provide a mysterious or thought provoking

dramatic principle that every element in a story must be necessary, and irrelevant elements should be removed

describes a topic, subject or symbol in a story

point of highest tension in narrative

thumb|A sculpture representing Ethos outside the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in Canberra, Australia Ethos is a Greek word meaning "character" that is used to describe the guiding beliefs or ideals that characterize a community, nation, or ideology; and the balance between caution and passion. The Greeks also used this word to refer to the power of music to influence emotions, behaviors, and even morals. Early Greek stories of Orpheus exhibit this idea in a compelling way. The word's use in rhetoric is closely based on the Greek terminology used by Aristotle in his concept

upright=1.35|thumb|Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinals eavesdropping in the Vatican. A painting by , 1895 Eavesdropping is the act of secretly or stealthily listening to the private conversation or communications of others without their consent in order to gather information.

story in a nested narration that brackets one or more embedded stories

In fiction, a MacGuffin (sometimes McGuffin) is an object, device, or event that is necessary to the plot and the motivation of the characters, but insignificant, unimportant, or irrelevant in itself. Thus, the use of a MacGuffin in a narrative is a plot device. The term was originated by Angus MacPhail for film, adopted by Alfred Hitchcock, and later extended to a similar device in other fiction.

film genre

narrative technique

intentional avoiding logical thinking when dealing with a piece of work for the sake of enjoyment

narrative technique in which one character within a narrative narrates

Anagnorisis (; ) is a moment in a play or other work when a character makes a critical discovery. Anagnorisis originally meant recognition in its Greek context, not only of a person but also of what that person stood for. Anagnorisis was the hero's sudden awareness of a real situation, the realization of things as they stood, and finally, the hero's insight into a relationship with an often antagonistic character in Aristotelian tragedy.

Peripeteia (, peripety, alternative Latin form: Peripetīa, ultimately from ) is a reversal of circumstances, or turning point, within a work of literature.

thumb|The title page of Poetics (Aristotle)|Aristotle's Poetics

A flashforward (also spelled flash-forward, and more formally known as prolepsis) is a scene that temporarily takes the narrative forward in time from the current point of the story in literature, film, television and other media. Flashforwards are often used to represent events expected, projected, or imagined to occur in the future. They may also reveal significant parts of the story that have not yet occurred, but soon will in greater detail. It is similar to foreshadowing, in which future events are not shown but rather implicitly hinted at. It is also similar to an ellipsis, which takes t

A quest is a journey toward a specific mission or a goal. It serves as a plot device in mythology and fiction: a difficult journey towards a goal, often symbolic or allegorical. Tales of quests figure prominently in the folklore of every nation and ethnic culture.

In a narrative, a backstory or the background (information) is a set of events that establishes a character's past or that precedes and leads up to the main plot. In acting, it is the fictional history of a character before the main plot events that a performer creates during their preparation for the role.

extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media

In fiction, a subplot or side story is a strand of the plot that is a supporting side story for any story or for the main plot. Subplots may connect to main plots, in either time and place or thematic significance. Subplots often involve supporting characters, those besides the protagonist or antagonist. Subplots may also intertwine with the main plot at some point in a story.

thumb|right|300px|Example of a page from a screenplay formatted for a feature-length film. Screenwriting or scriptwriting is the art and craft of writing scripts for mass media such as feature films, television productions or video games. It is often a freelance profession.

dramatic structure

division of a film

phenomenon in story telling

structure of a dramatic work such as a play or film

anything which moves the plot forward or maintains it

doctrine of artistic creativity according to which the creative process should be based on the close imitation of the masterpieces of the preceding authors

short impressionistic scene that focuses on one moment or character

Denouement (, ) is an element in the structure of a story, in which all plot lines typically come to a resolution, events are explained, etc. It usually follows the climax. The term is borrowed from the French word () derived which is .

social phenomenon of two individuals interact with sexual desire, but consummation is postponed or never happens

narrative technique

significant event within a plot

narrative technique

by Dionysius of Halicarnassus, the first formulation, in the West, of the doctrine of imitation

episodic social novel in a defined era and regional location