Literature In English Past Questions | JAMB, WAEC, NECO and Post UTME Past Questions

Categories of Plot Structure: Climatic vs. Episodic

Climatic Structure

1. Plot begins late in story, closer to the very end or climax
2. Covers a short space of time, perhaps a few hours, or at most a few days
3. Contains a few solid, extended scenes, such as three acts with each act comprising one long scene
4. Occurs in a restricted locale, one room or one house
5. Number of characters is severely limited, usually not more than six or eight
6. Plot in linear and moves in a single line with few subplots or counter plots
7. Line of action proceeds in a cause and effect chain. The characters and events are closely linked in a sequence of logical, almost inevitable development

Episodic Structure

1. Plot begins relatively early in the story and moves through a series of episodes
2. Covers a longer period of time: weeks, months, and sometimes years
3. Many short, fragmented scenes; sometimes an alternation of short and long scenes
4. May range over an entire city or even several countries
5. Profusion of characters, sometimes several dozen
6. Frequently marked by several threads of action, such as two parallel plots, or scenes of comic relief in a serous play
7. Scenes are juxtaposed tone to one another. An event may result from several causes, or no apparent cause, but arises in a network or web of circumstances

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