The plot of a story is the series of connected events that make up the main part of the story. Most literary plots follow a general pattern. At the beginning of the story, the setting is established, and the characters are introduced to the reader. The conflict in the story is introduced soon after, usually through an incident or event that sets off the rising action. This series of events leads to the climax. After the climax, the falling action leads to the resolution at the end of the story.

The setting of a story is the time and place in which the events happen. It includes the physical, historical, and cultural settings of a story.