plot tone
“FIVE CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN EXIT”
Q: what’s the main conflict in the episode?
a: the characters are trying to figure out who they are, where they are, and how to escape the cylinder.
Q: what’s the climax?
a: when the major climbs out and we discover they’re actually dolls in a toy donation barrel.
Q: what theme fits the story?
a: identity and meaning are shaped by forces outside our control, but humans still search for purpose.
“THE AMERICAN EMBASSY”
Q: what’s the main conflict?
a: whether the woman will reveal her son’s death to gain sympathy for a visa, or protect his memory.
Q: what’s the climax?
a: when she chooses not to tell the consular officer about her child.
Q: what’s the theme?
a: trauma reshapes a person’s choices, especially in systems where power is unequal.
“TWO THANKSGIVING DAY GENTLEMEN”
Q: what’s the main conflict?
a: whether the tradition of the rich man feeding the poor man will continue, even when it becomes harmful.
Q: where’s the situational irony?
a: the feast meant to help the poor man actually makes him sick, and the rich man Faints instead.
Q: theme?
a: traditions lose their value when followed blindly without considering real consequences.
“A NIGHT FACE UP”
Q: what’s the main conflict?
a: whether the man will escape the Aztecs hunting him.
Q: what’s the plot twist?
a: the “modern hospital world” is the dream — the Aztec sacrifice world is real.
Q: theme?
a: the mind can blur reality, and what feels safe might be the illusion.
“BY ANY OTHER NAME”
Q: what’s the main conflict?
a: whether the girls can maintain their cultural identity under British colonial pressure.
Q: what’s the climax?
a: when the sisters decide they won’t let the name changes affect who they truly are.
Q: theme?
a: names can be changed, but cultural identity remains strong.
CONFLICT + CLIMAX (including LOTF, 12AM, OMAM)
Q: how do u write the main conflict of any story?
a: write it as a question about the main struggle, like “will the boys survive?” or “will juror 8 convince the others?”
Q: what does the climax do?
a: it answers the conflict question.
LORD OF THE FLIES
Q: what’s the main conflict in LOTF?
a: will the boys maintain civilization, or will they descend into savagery?
Q: what type of conflict is it?
a: person vs society / person vs self (ralph vs the group, ralph vs his own fear)
Q: what’s the climax of LOTF?
a: when the boys kill Simon, mistaking him for the beast.
this is the moment the conflict question gets answered — savagery wins over civilization.
12 ANGRY MEN
Q: what’s the main conflict in 12 Angry Men?
a: will juror 8 convince the other jurors to reconsider the evidence, or will the boy be found guilty without discussion?
Q: what type of conflict?
a: person vs society / person vs person (juror 8 vs the rest)
Q: what’s the climax of 12 Angry Men?
a: when juror 3 breaks down and finally says “not guilty.”
this answers the conflict question — juror 8 succeeds in making the group re-evaluate the case.
OF MICE AND MEN
Q: what’s the main conflict in OMAM?
a: will george and lennie achieve their dream of owning land and being independent?
also: can george keep lennie out of trouble long enough to make the dream real?
Q: what type of conflict?
a: person vs society / person vs fate / person vs self
Q: what’s the climax of OMAM?
a: when lennie accidentally kills curley’s wife.
this ends the possibility of the dream and answers the conflict — the world will not allow them to escape their circumstances.
FIVE PLOT POINTS
Q: what are the 5 plot points?
a: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution.
Q: how do u identify them?
a: look for:
– exposition = intro to characters + setting
– rising action = the drama building
– climax = biggest turning point
– falling action = fallout from the climax
– resolution = new normal
Q: what counts as a plot twist?
a: when new info late in the story changes how u see characters, setting, or conflict.
Q: how does it affect the reader?
a: u rethink everything u thought u knew.
PARALLEL PLOT LINES
Q: what’s a parallel plot line?
a: two storylines happening at the same time that reflect or contrast each other.
Q: which story uses this?
a: “A Night Face Up” (hospital world vs Aztec world).
TONE & MOOD
Q: what’s tone?
a: the author’s attitude.
ex: bitter, hopeful, tense, sarcastic.
Q: how is tone conveyed?
a: word choice, dialogue, description, pacing.
Q: what’s mood?
a: how the reader feels.
ex: eerie, peaceful, stressed, dreamy.
Q: how is mood created?
a: setting, imagery, sensory details, atmosphere.
Q: difference btw tone and mood?
a: tone = the author’s energy
mood = the reader’s experience
Q: can tone + mood differ?
a: yes. the author might be sarcastic while the mood feels sad.
SETTING IMPACT
Q: how does setting affect tone & mood?
a: setting creates the emotional backdrop. a hospital = tense mood. a toy barrel = eerie tone. a colonial school = suffocating mood.
SITUATIONAL IRONY
Q: what is situational irony?
a: when the opposite of what u expect happens.
Q: which story SLAYS with this?
a: “Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen.”
APPLICATION
Q: what should u be ready to do on the test?
a: analyze NEW passages for:
• plot structure
• tone + mood
• conflict + climax
• irony
• theme