Plot (narrative)

Do you love listening to stories? Do you ever wiggle your toes and ask, “And then what happened?”. That’s me. I am the little path a story follows, like connecting the dots in a picture book. I hold your hand and take you from the very beginning, the “Once upon a time…”, all the way through the fun parts in the middle. I make sure we get to the happy “The End.”. I am the adventure that makes you want to turn the page to see what happens next.

People have always needed me to tell their stories. A long, long, long time ago, before there were lots of books, people would sit together around a warm, crackling campfire. They told stories about the big, bright moon and the sparkly stars. They used me to help everyone follow along. Then, one day in a sunny place called Greece, a very smart thinker named Aristotle saw me. This was a very long time ago, around 335 BCE. He noticed that the best stories all had a beginning, a middle part with exciting things, and an ending. He helped everyone see my special shape. Hello. My name is Plot.

I am in all of your favorite adventures. When you watch a cartoon about a funny chase, I am there. When you read a book about a silly surprise, I am there, too. I am the big, warm hug that happens at the very end of the story. I am like a secret map that shows you where all the fun is hidden. Every single time you tell a friend what you did today, you are using me to make your very own story. You are a wonderful storyteller. So, what amazing story will we build together next?