2. INTRINSIC ELEMENT
2.1 Theme
A novel’s theme is the main idea that the writer expresses. Theme can also be defined as the action of the characters do. Rarely can a novel’s theme be
interpreted in only one way. Because of the length of novels and the various characters, conflicts and scene found within them, readers can look at different
aspect of the work to uncover different interpretations of the meaning of the tale. Throughout the history of the novels, a major theme has been whether
people can change their situations in life or whether they are in the grips of forces beyond their control.
A common theme in novels is the conflict between appearance and reality, the search for personal identity. The other common themes in novels include how
act and life are reflected in one another, the meaning of the religion, and whether technology helps people or whether it is a harmful aspect of society. However,
themes are the “keys” to understanding the novel.
2.2 Plot
The plot of the novel is the narrative and thematic development of the story, that is, what happens and what these events mean. By the statement ” the
plot as a narrative of events, the emphasis falling on causality”, it means that plot is a series of events that depend on one another, not a sequence of unrelated
episodes.
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The existence of the plot itself is decided by three essential elements: events, conflict, and climax. An event is a attempt at solving the problem in the
story. In a story are usually a number of attempts to solve. The problem and these events make up most of the story.
While, Wellek and Warren stated that “conflict is a dramatic thing, direct to competition between two balanced powers and shows action and reaction”.
Climax is the third element in a plot. This is a swift nemesis, the problem becomes violent or almost solved. The climax is far from the most important
element of the story, but it most be there. In some cases the climax is near the beginning of the book or in another unusual place but it is most commonly at the
end, sometimes at the very end. Often there is very little left after the climax and all that is needed is some resolution.
According to Nurgiantoro, there are five steps in plot: First is introduction step. Introduction step contains with opening step of a
story, etc. Introduction step really useable as the base of the next step. The second step is step of generating circumstances, is when conflict
happened for the first time and it will developed or being developed as conflict in the next step.
Next is the third step or the step of rising option action, is complete that had happened in previous step will become more developing and being developed
its intensity. The external and internal conflict, contrast among the interest problem and character that tends to climax cannot be avoided anymore.
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Fourth, the step of climax that is when conflict and contrast that had been happened to the characters reached culminating point. The main character who
has subject and object of conflict will realize the climax. Not every story has one climax. A long fiction maybe has more than one climax.
Finally, the fifth step or the denouement’s step. In this step conflict and contrast that had reached climax are being solved and made clear. However,
actually the author did not arrange these five step chronologically.
There are several kinds of plot based on different criteria in literary work as follow:
1. Kinds of plot based on the criterion of the time’s order: Time’s order means that time when the events happened in a story or there
is an order in telling the story exactly. There are three kinds of plot based on time’s order.
First, the plot in which the events are told chronologically. This plot called the progressive plot. In this plot first event is followed by the next event or first
event cause the next events. In other word, this story is started from the earlier step; situation, introduction, and conflict. Then the middle step; rising conflict,
climax, and finally the last step; solution. Second, flashback plot is the plot in which the events are not told
chronologically. The story is not started from the earlier, but maybe from the middle or even from the last step, and then the first step will be told. The serves
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conflicts directly, even the conflict that almost reach climax while the readers have not known situation and problem yet.
The third plot is mixed plot. The mixed plot means that the plot is mixture between progressive plot and flashback plot.
2. Kinds of plot based on the criterion of number. A story sometime has one plot, it is called a single plot. But sometime it
has more than one plot and it is called as sub-plot. A novel which has single plot usually just tells a story by telling a main character who is protagonist and acts as
a hero. In biographic novel usually used plot that the story only follows the life of protagonist character, problem and conflict that he got. Of course there are also
another characters, but they are being told if they are related to the main character. Meanwhile, the sub-plot develops a story by telling mote than one plot. Its
structure contains a main plot, some additional plots or sub-plot based on order of importance, and the role of characters in the story. Sub-plot are parts of main plots
which telling the second story in order to clear up and extend the reader perception about the main plot and support the whole story.
3. Kinds of plot based on the criterion of content These plot divided into three majorities. Plot of fortune, plot of character,
and plot of thought.
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First, plot of fortune. This plot connects with the story that telling the luck and fortune of the main character in a story. This plot divided into six kinds:
action plot, pathetic plot, punitive plot, and admiration plot. The second plot is plot of character. Plot of character is more attentive to
character’s condition then the events that related to the plot. This plot is divided into maturing plot, reform plot, testing plot and generation plot.
Finally the plot of thought tells something that becomes thinking material, willingness, feelings, obsessions, etc, that become the problem of life and human
lives. This plot divided into education plot, revelation plot, affection plot, and disillusionment plot.
2.3. Character
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