Purpose of Plot

Purpose of Plot

1.    To make the story more interesting

Readers like to be kept in suspense; they may not like to be told everything from the beginning. Therefore, withholding some information form the readers may keep them guessing and therefore keep them involved in the story.

2.    To make the story more dramatic

Sometimes the more exciting event is placed at the beginning so that the reader is immediately captivated by the story. On the other hand, writers sometimes keep the most exciting incidents until last, so that the story ends dramatically and leaves an impression in the minds of the readers.

3.    To bring out the message or issue more strongly

Writers may rearrange events or include subplot elements so that at the end of the novel, the major and minor strand support each other and emphasise the message of the text more strongly.

4.    To create a strong emotional response

Writers may also reorganise the events that occurred to build up a sense of anticipation or develop a more compelling and intense mood at the end. The effect of this would be to create a deeper emotional response within the reader.

In addition to reorganising the story, it is important for writers to include descriptive language so that the events depicted become clearer. Therefore, a good story cannot just consist of a narration of events, it must also include more emotive and descriptive language.

Text A	Text B
Conrad was in love with Lucy and he tried to talk to her one Sunday.	The coffee shop was filled with the usual Sunday crowd. A thick oppressive heat pressed down on the crowd and flies buzzed around like airplanes. Conrad saw her at a distance and tried to make his way past the magnificent fat man who was in front of him. He was within ten feet of her and saw that she was dressed in a pink blouse, which fell softly over her shoulders and covered the upper half of her arms.
She is beautiful. I love her.	O she doth teach the torches to burn bright. It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear – Beauty too rich for use, for each too dear. (Extract from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare)