What's the difference between a story and a plot?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by InspiraX1234, Feb 4, 2013.

  1. InspiraX1234

    InspiraX1234 New In Town

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    What a difference between a story and a plot? May anyone please help me :)? Many thanks in advance when you do :D
     
  2. Eight Star

    Eight Star The Old One
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    The plot's the general layout of a story. Plot is like; "What's the main conflict, what are the resolutions, and who gets to be the hero?"

    Story can be written without plot. A story is just a tale of something.
     
  3. Malak

    Malak World Eater
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    Writer E.M. Forster once wrote in Aspects of the Novel, defined a story as ‘a narrative of events arranged in their time sequence.’ Forster wrote: ‘it (a story) can only have one merit: that of making the audience want to know what happens next. “The king died and then the queen died” is a story.’
    ‘A plot’, Forster wrote, ‘is also a narrative of events, the emphasis falling on causality.’ Thus, ‘“The king died and then the queen died” is a story.’ But ‘“The king died, and then the queen died of grief’ is a plot. The time-sequence is preserved, but the sense of causality overshadows it.’


    That is completely copied from a Cinemoose article and has examples if you so choose to read them.
     
  4. ThePoeticPony

    ThePoeticPony Forgetful Pro

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    Story:
    [​IMG]


    Plot:

    [​IMG]

    Sorry, I had to :derpe:
     
  5. Eight Star

    Eight Star The Old One
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    I knew somepony would. ::S:
     
  6. Malak

    Malak World Eater
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    Forget I posted anything, only listen to TPP.
     
  7. Stridershy

    Stridershy A Pony Every Pony Should Know

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    *Writes down notes*
     
  8. Frost

    Frost Would You Kindly?

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    Well, a plot is typically part of a story. So is the theme, setting and characters.

    You can have a story without a plot I suppose, but it wouldn't be much of a story.
     
  9. Eight Star

    Eight Star The Old One
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    I have friends who specialize in PWP stories. (Plot, What Plot?!)

    They're usually like... just fight scenes, or... other action-oriented scenes that can be written without any regard to story. Take two characters, have action. No plot.
     
  10. Frost

    Frost Would You Kindly?

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    That would be more of a scene...not so much a story. Even going by the definition: "makes you wonder what happens next" - fight scenes don't make for much of a story.


    I'm sure you may disagree, but that's my 2 cents.
     
  11. Eight Star

    Eight Star The Old One
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    It's a written event. "Two men died and one walked away with the smoking gun."

    It's a short, technically.
     
  12. Aynine

    Aynine Angel of Maledict Fortune

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    Plot is the premise that the story revolves around drives you to unraveling the mystery or resolving the conflict. A long story needs a plot, but a comedic, episodic style wouldn't really need it as much.
     

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