Plot Elements
This part of the story introduces the characters, setting, and background.
What is the exposition?
A struggle between a character and another person, nature, or force is this type of conflict. (internal or external conflict)
What is an external conflict?
Who tells the story of “Charles”?
Who is Laurie's mother?
What part of the plot is this: Charles's actions worsen each day: he is "fresh" to the teacher, hits other children, makes a girl bleed, and is generally disruptive.
What is rising action?
The first part of a plot diagram is called this.
What is the exposition?
This is where the story’s problem or main conflict begins.
What is the inciting incident?
When a character struggles with feelings, decisions, or fears inside themselves. (internal or external conflict)
What is an internal conflict?
What is the setting of “Charles”?
What is Laurie's home and kindergarten classroom? or 1948 Great Britian
What part of the plot is this: The teacher responds with confusion: “We don't have any Charles in the kindergarten.”
What is climax?
The part that shows the events leading up to the climax.
What is the rising action?
These are the events that build up the story’s tension before the climax.
What is the rising action?
Maya wants to tell the truth about breaking her mom’s favorite vase, but she’s scared she’ll get in trouble. She struggles with whether to confess or lie. What type of conflict is this?
man vs. man. man vs society
man vs. self
man vs. nature
man vs. self
What bad things does Charles do at school? Name one.
What is he hits the teacher, yells, or makes other kids laugh? Other things acceptable too.
What part of the plot is this: Laurie's mom dreads meeting Charles's mother, picturing her as a "trembling, pale woman."
What is rising action?
In “Charles,” the exposition includes these two things.
What are Laurie starting school and telling his parents about Charles?
The highest point of tension or the turning point in the story.
What is the climax?
Two best friends argue after one of them spreads a secret. They stop talking and both want the other to apologize first.
man vs. man
man vs. self
man vs. nature
man vs. society
man vs. man
What is the main conflict in the story?
What is Laurie lying about a boy named Charles?
What part of the plot is this:
Mom is shocked, exposing Laurie as the true culprit of all the reported kindergarten disruptions, leaving the narrator (mom) stunned. The story ends instantly.
What is resolution?
In “Charles,” the climax happens when this is revealed.
What is there is no Charles in the class?
This part of the story shows what happens after the climax and leads to the end.
What is the falling action?
A boy speaks out against an unfair school rule that says only certain students can be on the student council.
man vs. man man vs. self man vs. nature
man vs. society
man vs. society
What is the climax of the story?
What is when Laurie’s mom learns there is no Charles in the class?
What part of the plot has the mom realize all of Laurie's descriptions of Charles are about himself?
What is falling action?
The falling action shows this.
What is Laurie’s mom realizing her son made Charles up?