Plot

By plot, we understand the sequence of events that make up a story; this can also be called a “storyline”. Traditionally, plots have five elements: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.

The extract from “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding, although part of a novel, can also be seen as an independent short story containing some of the plot elements mentioned before. Here is how the plot in the extract from “Lord of the Flies” functions:

Exposition. The exposition presents the main characters: Ralph, Jack and Piggy. Ralph is immediately seen as the leader; his tone is clear, strong and accusative: “Ralph spoke. “You let the fire out.” (p. 63, ll. 3-4)

Jack is introduced as a savage-like figure, a wild hunter who only cares about making other beings submit to his will:

“His mind was crowded with memories; memories of the knowledge that had come to them when they closed in on the struggling pig, knowledge that they had outwitted a living thing, imposed their will...