Question Home

Position:Home>Books & Authors> Is A Plot The same thing as a summary of the story? if not, whats a plot? Whats


Question: Is A Plot The same thing as a summary of the story!? if not, whats a plot!? Whats the differences!?
Is A Plot The same thing as a summary of the story!? if not, whats a plot!? Whats the differences!?

Please answer, i kinda need the help distinguishing it now =]
an an explanation please!

Thank you =]Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
The plot is the basic situation in which the characters of the story find themselves!. Typically a plot includes these 5 elements:

Central problem or conflict, usually near the beginning of the story!.

Rising Action which includes all the events or consequences created by the conflict;

Climax, in which the rising action results in a turning point!. Often this section is very dramatic!.

Denouement, in which various of the issues disclosed at the beginning and played out in the rising action and climax are settled or explained!.

Resolution, the final result of everything that came before -it can be good or bad, happy or sad!.


The summary is a brief statement of what happens in the story, in terms of where it happens and what, specifically, the characters do!.

The difference is that the plot need tell you nothing at all about what happens in the story, or where or when it takes place!. The summary, on the other hand, does include such detail!.

A plot may tell you that an innocent youngster lives in conflict with evil sisters who treat her badly, but through a stroke of fate, her goodness and beauty are recognized by an influential person who wants to present her to society!. But there is a problem: she is poor and unfit for polite society!. Unexpected help from a kind stranger enables her to present herself with with flair and charm, in exchange for an agreement to leave it all behind by a specified deadline, etc!., etc!.

That would be the "plot" for Cinderella, yet it could be the plot for thousands of similar stories!. But it tells you nothing about what actually transpires in the story -you might not even guess which story we're talking about!. But the summary would tell you about a poor girl, the evil step sisters, the fairy godmother, the prince, the ball, the carriage turning into a pumpkin!. It would give you the entire story -but in just a paragraph or two!.

Other key distinctions: You can tell what the plot is from the summary, but you cannot summarize the story from the plot alone!.

The BIG distinction: There are millions of different stories, and so, just as many millions of summaries are possible!. BUT, there are very few plots!. Plots are recyled, again and again, into different stories!. You already know them: love conquers all, man (or woman) against nature, man against man, be good and you will be rewarded, be bad and you will be punished -and a few others!. Every story you have ever read and every story you will ever read will use one of those standard plots!.

It may help you to think of a plot in another way the word is often used: meaning a plan by people to do something, usually bad!. "He plotted with his friends to steal the girlfriend!." In this kind of plot, there is some reason for planning -which is like the central conflict or problem!. There is rising action, as plans are fleshed out and acted out!. Then there is a moment of truth, where all that has been done works -or not!. Then there is the aftermath and finally a resolution, a final result when everything is over and done!.

I hope this helps!.

Www@QuestionHome@Com

Well, if I can remember things correctly, the plot is the core Essence of the book!. Or What main story the book is telling, following it to it's eventual conclusion!. A summary would be a short synopsis of the whole story and what steps and happenings are in the book that gets it to that eventual end!. It probably sounds like the same thing, and I haven't described it very well!. But, at the moment, that's about the best I can do!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

All fictional stories have a plot!. Plot is the sequence of events that take place in the story!. There are five components to plot:

Central problem or conflict found at the beginning of the story (Man vs!. Man, Man vs!. Nature, Man vs!. Society, Man vs!. Self);
rising action which includes all the events created by the conflict;
climax, which is the highest point or turning point of the story;
falling action, where the conflict becomes unraveled;
resolution, where the conflict is resolved (the resolution of a story may have either positive or negative outcomes)!.



a summary is reducing the stories main points to give the reader a concentrated form of what the story was about
Www@QuestionHome@Com

The plot is the root of all stories, whether they're minimalistic or archplots!. All stories can be plotted as a quest even though the sequence of events may or may not be linear!.

A character (or characters) starts a quest living an ordinary life (not to be confused with a boring life) until something reverses their world!. Once this inciting incident happens, the character feels like he must correct it and place his world in order!. This correction is the main object of desire!. The character will naturally take the least amount of effort to reach the objective, and each effort will fail because of increasing stumbling blocks!. These progressive complications require the character to go to great lengths to reach the object of desire until it reaches a point where it takes the greatest risk and strength, thereby culminating in a climax!. The end then takes place immediately!. Characters do not have to obtain the desire to have a plot!.

Learn more about stories or contribute words in the story wiki:
http://www!.storyentertainment!.com/owWww@QuestionHome@Com

Summary is briefly explaining the events of the story from start to finish!. The plot is the main thing going on in the story!. So you'd tell someone the plot of Harry Potter = a young boy realizes he's a wizard and has all sorts of adventures at wizardry school!. If you were trying to summarize it, you'd go through more detail, touching on major events, etc!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The plot is the story itself!.Www@QuestionHome@Com