Let us define a plot. We have defined a story as a narrative of events arranged in their time sequence. A plot is also a narrative of events, the emphasis falling on causality. “The kind died and the queen died” is a story.” “The king. died and the queen died of grief,” is a plot. The time-sequence Is preserved, but the sense of causality overshadows it. Or again: “The queen died, no one knew why, until it was discovered that it was through grief at the death of the king.” This is a plot with a mystery in it, a form capable of high development. It suspends the time-sequence, it moves as far away & from the story as its limitations will allow. Consider the death of: the queen. If it is a story we say, “and then?” If it is a plot we ask’ why?” That is a fundamental difference between these two, aspects of the novel.
