The Quest to freedom

Different ways of tackling the plot for your story. Build up the characters of the animals. Describe the way they react to each other.

• Opening: INTRODUCE CHARACTERS (wild animals), SETTING (rainforest) and the PLOT - a machine cutting down trees to destroy the forest. Do the animals need to escape?
• HUNGER: The land is cleared and the animal’s food sources have gone so they are hungry.
• FEAR: They stampede in terror - not knowing where they will go, but with only one goal - to escape the machines.
• DEVELOPMENT CONFLICT: FEAR GRIPS - and he can’t go on. He falls apart and weeps loudly that he will stay and die of starvation.
• MORE CONFLICT: One animal turns back, refusing to listen to the other animals but he is in terrible danger...
• TIGER TAKES CONTROL: He tells them, “be strong. We must help each other. We must believe we can overcome these dangers.
• The journey is hard. The conditions are bad. Food is scarce and the terrain is treacherous. The animals feet are sore.
• MUST STAND TOGETHER TO OVERCOME PROBLEMS: The animals choose a leader, tiger or elephant. If they are going to survive this they need to stick together. All these arguments will get them nowhere. Someone must take control and give some clear instructions.
• Resolution: What would be in the safe land at theend ofthe journey? The animals followed the twisting river that cut a train through the dense foliage, until they came to a clearing where there was a plentiful supply of green grass, juicy shoots, green succulent leaves and a fresh spring. They drunk huge mouthfuls of fresh water and settled down to sleep in safety. They decided to make it their new home.

Now write the story you planned.