Understanding the Plot of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

What is defined as the “plot” of a novel can be explained and broken-down in very specific steps, although the actual content of the plot within novel has infinite variations and possibilities. Plot regards the organization of the principle events of a work of fiction(Wikipedia). Plot is different from the storyline in that plot worries with how events are related, structured, and how they depict change in the major characters. The majority of plots will follow some process of change in which the main characters are caught up in a conflict that is eventually resolved. The plot of a novel can be broken down in five parts: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution (Wikipedia). The exposition usually occurs at the start of the story. Here is when the characters are first introduced and were we also learn about the setting of the story. Most importantly, we are first introduced to the main conflict of the story. Rising action is when the story begins to develop the conflicts, which in turn usually leads to the building of suspense or interest. The exposition and rising action are the two elements that build up the beginning of the story. The middle of the story is entirely devoted to climax. Climax is the turning point of the story, where the main characters usually come to face with a conflict which makes them in some way “change”. Falling action and resolution is what makes up the ending of the story. Falling action is the part of the story where all the loose ends of the plot are tied up and the conflicts and climax are taken care of. In conclusion, the resolution is when the story comes to a reasonable ending.
Charles Dickens’s novel Great Expectations is an excellent example of how a well developed plot, and many subplots hidden within the main, can create many twists and turns and make what may seem like a ‘fairy tale’ story a much more interesting and complex one. The protagonist of the navel is a seven year old boy named Pip.

Cited: Dickens, Charles, and Graham Law. Great Expectations. Peterborough, Ont. [u.a.: Broadview, 1998.Print. Dickens, Charles, and Graham Law. "Volume 1 Chatper VIII." Great Expectations. Peterborough, Ont. [u.a.: Broadview, 1998. 89-100. Print. Dickens, Charles, and Graham Law. "Volume I Chapter IX." Great Expectations. Peterborough, Ont. [u.a.: Broadview, 1998. 100-07. Print. "Plot Analysis Great Expectations." Shmoop: Study Guides & Teacher Resources. Shmoop. Web. 06 Oct. 2010. . Wikipedia. "Plot (narrative)." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 06 Oct. 2010. .