AP English Literature: Conflict, Plot, and Setting - Your Night-Before Guide

Hey there, future literary master! 🌟 Let's make sure you're feeling confident and ready to ace that AP Lit exam tomorrow. This guide is designed to be your quick, go-to resource, focusing on the key concepts you absolutely need to know about conflict, plot, and setting. Let's dive in!

Setting: The Foundation of Conflict

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of conflict and plot, let's talk about setting. Think of it as the stage where all the drama unfolds. It's not just where a story takes place, but when and how too.

Key Elements of Setting

Historical Context: 🕰️ What year or time period is the story set in? Is it the past, present, or future? This can dramatically change the meaning of a conflict.
Cultural Context: 🌍 Where in the world (or beyond!) does the story take place? What are the unique customs, beliefs, and values of that place? A story in Texas will feel different from one in Maine, even within the same country.
Social Context: 🏘️ What social groups are involved? Are we looking at aristocrats, laborers, or a mix? Social status can create its own kind of conflict.

Key Concept

Why Setting Matters: Setting isn't just background noise; it informs and contextualizes the entire story's conflict. It shapes what conflicts are possible and what those conflicts mean to the characters involved. Think of it as the lens through which all events are viewed.

Memory Aid

Setting = Time + Place + Society. Remember this trio to quickly analyze the setting's impact on the story.

Example: Setting's Impact

Example of Setting

Caption: A spaceship battle wouldn't fit in 1901 Paris, highlighting how setting limits the types of conflicts possible.

Conflict: The Heart of the Story

Conflict is the tension that drives a story forward. It's the struggle between opposing forces. According to College Board, it's the tension between competing values, either within a character or with external forces.

Types of Conflict

Person vs. Person: 🤼 A classic battle between two characters. Think of a rivalry or a physical fight.
Person vs. Self: 🤔 An internal struggle within a character's mind. This could be a moral dilemma or a personal battle with self-doubt.
Person vs. Society: 🏛️ A character fighting against social norms, expectations, or injustices.
Person vs. Nature: 🏞️ A character battling the forces of nature, like a storm, a disease, or a wild animal.

Quick Fact

Conflicts often overlap! 💡 A character might be struggling internally while also battling external forces. These overlapping conflicts often heighten the drama and complexity of the story.

Example: Hamlet

Hamlet

Caption: Hamlet faces internal conflict (to avenge his father) and external conflicts (with his uncle and Ophelia), all intertwining to drive the plot.

Internal: Hamlet's indecision about killing his uncle.
External: His strained relationship with Ophelia and his uncle's suspicion.

Exam Tip

Identify Conflict: Ask yourself: "What is blocking the main character from getting what they want?" This will help you pinpoint the central conflicts in any text.

Plot Development: The Unfolding Story

Plot is the sequence of events in a story, all related to the central conflict. It's not just a random series of events; each event should contribute to the overall narrative.

Key Aspects of Plot

Events: These include episodes, encounters, and scenes that develop the plot. Some events are more significant than others.
Significance: Ask yourself: "How necessary is this scene to the entire work?" Some scenes are crucial to the plot, while others might just add to the world-building or character development.
Change: 🔄 Before and after each chapter, ask: "What has changed?" This helps track the plot's progression and the impact of events.

Common Mistake

Not every event is a conflict! While most conflicts drive the plot, not every plot point is a conflict. Some events simply develop characters or establish the setting.

Plot Structure

Caption: A typical plot structure includes exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Exposition: Introduces the setting, characters, and initial situation.
Rising Action: Builds tension and introduces conflicts.
Climax: The peak of the story's conflict.
Falling Action: The events that follow the climax, leading towards resolution.
Resolution: The conclusion of the story, where conflicts are resolved (or not!).

Plot and Conflict Connection: Remember, plot events are usually linked to the story's central conflict. Understanding how events drive the conflict forward is crucial for analysis.

Final Exam Focus

Okay, you're almost there! Here's what to focus on for the exam:

High-Priority Topics

Setting's Impact: How does the historical, cultural, and social context affect the conflicts and characters?
Types of Conflict: Be able to identify and analyze internal and external conflicts.
Plot Development: Understand how events contribute to the overall narrative and the development of characters.
Interconnectedness: Recognize how setting, conflict, and plot are all interconnected.

Common Question Types

Multiple Choice: Look for questions that ask you to identify the type of conflict, the impact of the setting, or the significance of a plot event.
Short Answer: These will often ask you to analyze the relationship between conflict and character development or the influence of setting on the plot.
Free Response: Expect to write essays that analyze how the author uses setting, conflict, and plot to convey a theme or message.

Last-Minute Tips

Time Management: Don't spend too long on any one question. If you're stuck, move on and come back later.
Common Pitfalls: Avoid making assumptions about the text. Always support your claims with evidence.
Strategies: For free-response questions, plan your essay before you start writing. A clear structure will make your argument stronger.

Practice Questions

Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions

In a novel set during the Civil Rights Movement, a Black character faces discrimination in their town. This is primarily an example of which type of conflict? a) Person vs. Person b) Person vs. Self c) Person vs. Society d) Person vs. Nature
A character in a story is torn between their desire for personal freedom and their responsibility to their family. This is an example of: a) External conflict b) Internal conflict c) Social conflict d) Natural conflict

Free Response Question

Prompt: Analyze how the setting and conflict in a novel or play you have studied contribute to the development of a central theme.

Scoring Breakdown:

Thesis (1 point): A clear, defensible thesis statement that identifies a central theme and how setting and conflict contribute to it.
Evidence and Analysis (4 points): Well-chosen textual evidence and insightful analysis of how the setting and conflict develop the theme.
Sophistication (1 point): Demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the text, with insightful connections and analysis.

Short Answer Question

Briefly explain how the setting of Wuthering Heights contributes to the conflicts experienced by the characters.

You've got this! Go into the exam with confidence, knowing you've got the tools and knowledge to succeed. Good luck! 🍀

Conflict and plot development

Daniel Miller