Difference Wiki

Plot vs. Setting

The main difference between the plot and setting is that the plot is the sequence of events or main actions in a story and setting is the place, the time, and the social situation in which a story takes place

Key Differences

The plot is the essential element of any writing piece that tells the readers about the actual story on the flip side setting is the essential element of writing that tells the readers about outside things.
The plot is the general course of a story which includes specific events that determine its course or significant patterns of events on the other hand setting is the place, time and circumstance in which story or picture is set.
Setting includes the location, the social conditions, the timeline, the weather conditions, in a story and plot includes the order of the events is taking place inside a story.
The plot narrates the story whereas setting describes the backdrop and helps to create the mood of the reader.
The plot of a story is the specific order in which things move and happen in a story conversely Setting includes place and time of a story.

Comparison Chart

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It is the sequence of events and happenings that make up a story.
It is the time, place and situation where the story takes place.
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Function

Narrates the story
Describes the backdrop and create the mood

Refers To

The sequence of events and actions
The suitable situation, time and place

Function

Keep the readers involved and interested
Let the readers know everything about the story
Aimie Carlson
Jul 26, 2019

Order

Sequential
Random
Harlon Moss
Jul 26, 2019

Plot and Setting Definitions

Plot

A small piece of ground, generally used for a specific purpose
A garden plot.

Setting

The position, direction, or way in which something, such as an automatic control, is set.
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Plot

A measured area of land; a lot.

Setting

The context and environment in which a situation is set; the background.

Plot

A ground plan, as for a building; a diagram.

Setting

The time, place, and circumstances in which a narrative, drama, or film takes place.

Plot

See graph1.

Setting

(Music) A composition written or arranged to fit a text, such as a poetical work.
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Plot

The pattern or sequence of interrelated events in a work of fiction, as a novel or film.

Setting

A mounting, as for a jewel.

Plot

A secret plan to accomplish a hostile or illegal purpose; a scheme.

Setting

A place setting.

Plot

To represent graphically, as on a chart
Plot a ship's course.

Setting

A set of eggs in a hen's nest.

Plot

To locate (points or other figures) on a graph by means of coordinates.

Setting

Present participle of set

Plot

To draw (a curve) connecting points on a graph.

Setting

The time, place and circumstance in which something (such as a story or picture) is set; context; scenario.

Plot

To write or develop the plot of
"I began plotting novels at about the time I learned to read" (James Baldwin).

Setting

The act of setting.
The setting of the sun
The setting, or hardening, of moist plaster of Paris

Plot

To form a plot for; prearrange secretly or deviously
Plot an assassination.

Setting

A piece of metal in which a precious stone or gem is fixed to form a piece of jewelry.

Plot

To form or take part in a plot; scheme
Were plotting for months before the attack.

Setting

A level or placement that a knob or control is set to.
The volume setting on a television

Plot

To write or develop the plot for a work of fiction
A good mystery writer must plot well.

Setting

The act of marking the position of game, as a setter does.

Plot

(narratology) The course of a story, comprising a series of incidents which are gradually unfolded, sometimes by unexpected means.

Setting

Hunting with a setter.

Plot

An area or land used for building on or planting on.

Setting

Something set in, or inserted.

Plot

A graph or diagram drawn by hand or produced by a mechanical or electronic device.

Setting

A piece of vocal or choral music composed for particular words (set to music).
Schubert's setting of Goethe's poem
Bach's setting of the Magnificat

Plot

A secret plan to achieve an end, the end or means usually being illegal or otherwise questionable.
The plot would have enabled them to get a majority on the board.
The assassination of Lincoln was part of a larger plot.

Setting

The mounting of a play, etc., for the stage.

Plot

Contrivance; deep reach thought; ability to plot or intrigue.

Setting

The direction of a current of wind.

Plot

Participation in any stratagem or conspiracy.

Setting

That disappears below the horizon
The setting sun

Plot

A plan; a purpose.

Setting

The act of one who, or that which, sets; as, the setting of type, or of gems; the setting of the sun; the setting (hardening) of moist plaster of Paris; the setting (set) of a current.

Plot

Attractive physical attributes of characters involved in a story, originating from ironic juxtaposition with the original meaning (course of the story).
I'm not sure what's happening in that show, I mainly watch it for the plot.

Setting

The act of marking the position of game, as a setter does; also, hunting with a setter.

Plot

To conceive (a crime, misdeed etc).
They had plotted a robbery.
They were plotting against the king.

Setting

Something set in, or inserted.
Thou shalt set in it settings of stones.

Plot

(transitive) To trace out (a graph or diagram).
They plotted the number of edits per day.

Setting

That in which something, as a gem, is set; as, the gold setting of a jeweled pin.

Plot

(transitive) To mark (a point on a graph, chart, etc).
Every five minutes they plotted their position.

Setting

The time, place, and circumstances in which an event (real or fictional) occurs; as, the setting of a novel.

Plot

A small extent of ground; a plat; as, a garden plot.

Setting

The context and environment in which something is set;
The perfect setting for a ghost story

Plot

A plantation laid out.

Setting

The state of the environment in which a situation exists;
You can't do that in a university setting

Plot

A plan or draught of a field, farm, estate, etc., drawn to a scale.

Setting

Arrangement of scenery and properties to represent the place where a play or movie is enacted

Plot

Any scheme, stratagem, secret design, or plan, of a complicated nature, adapted to the accomplishment of some purpose, usually a treacherous and mischievous one; a conspiracy; an intrigue; as, the Rye-house Plot.
I have overheard a plot of death.
O, think what anxious moments pass betweenThe birth of plots and their last fatal periods!

Setting

The physical position of something;
He changed the setting on the thermostat

Plot

A share in such a plot or scheme; a participation in any stratagem or conspiracy.
And when Christ saith, Who marries the divorced commits adultery, it is to be understood, if he had any plot in the divorce.

Setting

A table service for one person;
A place setting of sterling flatware

Plot

Contrivance; deep reach of thought; ability to plot or intrigue.

Setting

Mounting consisting of a piece of metal (as in a ring or other jewelry) that holds a gem in place;
The diamond was in a plain gold mount

Plot

A plan; a purpose.

Setting

(of a heavenly body) disappearing below the horizon;
The setting sun

Plot

In fiction, the story of a play, novel, romance, or poem, comprising a complication of incidents which are gradually unfolded, sometimes by unexpected means.
If the plot or intrigue must be natural, and such as springs from the subject, then the winding up of the plot must be a probable consequence of all that went before.

Plot

To make a plot, map, pr plan, of; to mark the position of on a plan; to delineate.
This treatise plotteth down Cornwall as it now standeth.

Plot

To form a scheme of mischief against another, especially against a government or those who administer it; to conspire.
The wicked plotteth against the just.

Plot

To contrive a plan or stratagem; to scheme.
The prince did plot to be secretly gone.

Plot

To plan; to scheme; to devise; to contrive secretly.

Plot

A secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal);
They concocted a plot to discredit the governor
I saw through his little game from the start

Plot

A small area of ground covered by specific vegetation;
A bean plot
A cabbage patch
A briar patch

Plot

The story that is told in a novel or play or movie etc.;
The characters were well drawn but the plot was banal

Plot

A chart or map showing the movements or progress of an object

Plot

Plan secretly, usually something illegal;
They plotted the overthrow fo the government

Plot

Make a schematic or technical drawing of that shows how things work or how they are constructed

Plot

Make a plat of;
Plat the town

Plot vs. Setting

The plot is the course of a story contains a series of events which are gradually unfolded, sometimes by unexpected means. The setting is the time, place and circumstance in which something (story or picture) is set. The plot is the essential element of any writing piece that tells the readers the actual story. The setting is the essential element of writing that tells the readers about outside things. Plot conveys the actual events of the story with a precise structure that has a beginning, middle, and the end. Setting let the readers know all about the location, the social conditions, the timeline, the weather conditions, etc. The plot of a writing piece is its story, or the order of the events is taking place inside it. It is always sequential and logical with a beginning, middle and finally the ending which is all very logical and makes sense to the readers. Through the setting, the readers can imagine and visualize a lot about the time, the place, the theme, and the conditions prevailing in the story. Also, it leads the readers to make a judgment about the mood or the atmosphere. The plot is always an introduction and a climax where the conflict is at its peak to keep the readers involved and interested. The setting of a story tells so much to the readers. It lets readers know the geographical location of the characters. It also reveals the timeline as to the century or the year in which the events depicted in the story took place.

What is Plot?

The plot is the whole series of the events of the story. The plot unfolds through story, scenes, events, and dialogue. It is concerned with events which happen to the main characters and which have an impact on their decisions. A plot has sub-plots with one main plot. Sub-plots are added to expand the tension of the main story or to complicate it, but the main plot gets the ore emphasis. The term plot includes the sequence of happenings and events that compose the story. These happenings and events are related and affect each other throughout the story. The events take place according to the pattern, and one event becomes the cause or the result of another. Plots can vary from simple structures to complicated structures. A plot is the most important element in a piece of literary writing. There are five main elements or parts of the plot.

Elements of the Plot

  • Exposition
  • Rising Action
  • Climax
  • Falling Action
  • Resolution

What is Setting?

The setting in a literary piece refers to the time and place in which the story is taking place. It gives certain information about the historical period, geographical location, immediate surroundings, social conditions and weather relevant to the story. It is one of the major literary elements of a story setting. It gives the background of the story and helps to create a mood. The setting is the place of a story. It contains locations (bedroom, office, cafe, restaurant, cities or countries or planets, era or age, time of day, etc.). In addition, it also tells the underlying situation or condition of a piece of writing like weather condition, season, etc. The change in a novel’s setting produces a new story. Settings can be fictional or real, or a combination of both. Some settings are very specific whereas some are descriptive.

Features

  • Influences the word choice, character type, pace, tone, and genre
  • Enhances the story by enfolding character and plot in a place where they fit and where their strengths can best be highlighted
  • Wraps the story in a package that holds the story elements together in a cohesive unit
  • Answers the questions ‘where’ and ‘when’

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