Stories are more than just a series of events. The plots of most stories use the same structure, which is one reason that stories make sense to us when we read them. Once you’re able to identify the parts of a standard plot, you’ll see this structure everywhere--not just in the books you read, but also in films, television shows, and even video games.
Most stories start by introducing one or more characters and the situation they face. Details about setting also tend to appear at the beginning. This part of plot is called exposition. While it doesn't usually include any events, exposition helps readers understand who and what they’re reading about--it sets the stage.
In the children's story “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” the exposition might look something like this:
Once upon a time, there were three bears: a papa bear, a mama bear, and a baby bear. They lived in a tiny cottage in the woods. One beautiful spring morning, Mama Bear woke and decided to make her family breakfast.
These few sentences set the stage for the entire story. The reader knows that a bear family lives in the woods, it’s a beautiful spring day, and it’s almost breakfast time.
Question
What key elements does exposition introduce to the reader?
