The Plot Analysis of Stuart Woods’ Novel Entitled The Run
Devian Try Gustary
Sekolah Tinggi Bahasa Asing Technocrat
Abstract
This study aims to comprehend plot that used in the Stuart Woods’ novel The Run. In order to find out the answer of research, the writer tries to formulate the problem into two questions namely what kind of plot structure used in The Run novel and why the author uses the certain plot structure as the appropriate one to the story. In analyzing the plot, the writer uses the objective approach that focuses on the plot analysis based on the object that is the novel itself. The writer also does a library research to find references to finish the research. Several theories of plot were selected in order to find the most appropriate theories to support the analysis. The study reveals that the author used Original Plot in The Run novel. It can be identified from the chronological events’ arrangement in the novel, after that matched with one of the form diagrams of plot in Diyyani’s theory. The author used the Original Plot because of some reasons which are; the novel is telling about a fictional story, original plot structure can convey the story chronologically, and the readers are able to understand the story written in the novel easily.
Keywords: Plot, Novel
1. INTRODUCTION
Novel is a long written works that convey message of the author. Novel is typically depiction of imagined characters in believable settings, which are not only entertain but also reveal something about life, human nature, and fantasy according to the author’s perception. The purposes of novel are various. They can be educational, historical, political, and sometimes only entertaining the reader. One of the good famous novels is “Forest Gump” written by Winston Groom because it contains a lot of motivational life value. It tells about a life journey of a special need child that struggles to be a normal person and finally become a success person in carrier and love.
As the others literary works, Novel has elements as theme, character, setting, plot, and moral value as the intrinsic elements. Theme is the general main idea that unifies whole body of the work. Character is the combination qualities or features that distinguish a person, group, or thing from another. Setting the time, place, and circumstances that involve in the story. Moral value is the message that the author would like to convey to the reader by writing the novel. Plot is the arrangement of events that make up and show the sequences of the story.
“THE RUN” is a good novel. The writing is grammatically good and easy to be understood by the reader. Therefore, the reader could comprehend the story’s content of the novel that sent by the author. The story tells about how interesting and tightening the American presidential election journey is. The story’s events flew naturally on the beautiful arrangement. Those reasons stimulated the writer to read, enjoyed and reread the story.
The writer was impressed and amused about the novel especially the sequence of the events that arranged well by the author. Because the writer’s job is a teacher that deal with understanding something by understanding something by the progress, finally the writer would like to study deeply about the flowing progress of the novel by analyzing the plot of Stuart Woods’ novel entitled “THE RUN” with an analysis that titled “THE PLOT ANALYSIS OF STUARD WOODS’ NOVEL THE RUN.
2. THEORITICAL REVIEW
Some theoretical review supports this analysis. According to Kennedy (2007:180), “Novel is a book-length story in prose, whose author tries to create the sense that, while we read, we experience actual life.” It means that novel is a long written story contain of the imaginations of the author. The author creates and modify the story in some ways, as well as possible, to be a good arrangement.
In novel, there are five basic elements to construct a good story that one of the most important of them is plot. Plot is important in the novel, because plot arranges events in the novel to be a story in unity. Plot also show how events flow from the beginning to the end of the story. For understanding a story in novel, analysts of literature have to know about the plot. Because of those critical reasons, the experts of literature had been defined plot as some definitions.
According to Kenney (1966:14): “By plot in fiction, then, we mean not simply the events recounted in the story but the author’s arrangement of those events according to their causal relationships.” His statement above means that plot is element of novel that contain of many events. The events are arranged by the author in special order to be a unity story.
From the plot definition in previous theory statements and explanations, the writer considered that there are three essential part of plot. They are event, conflict, and climax.
a. Event
According to Abrams (1999:225) states that plot evolves it arouses expectations in the audience or reader about the future course of events and actions and how characters will respond to them. His statement means that event is a moment where the character is included into a situation that needs a respond. James and Jeffrey (1981:14) state that if some of events have greater magnitude and significance than others, if a logical and necessary relationship does indeed exist between them. Therefore, the writer considered that event can be devided into two kinds:
1. Major event
Major event is the event that influence and determine the development of the plot. The major event must have the logical relationship to the plot story. If the major event is omitted, it will make the story illogical.
2. Minor event
Minor event is the less important event. The event does not influence to the development of the plot. If the event is omitted, it will not affect to the logic of the story.
b. Conflict
According to Hudson (1913:263), “Every dramatic story arises out of some conflict: some clash of opposed individuals, or passions, or interests, good and evil, fate or circumstance, code or conventions of society, and so on.” The statement means that conflict is problem or struggle between two balance forces that happened during the journey of the story’s main character. Most of stories have more than one conflict that arises altogether into a unity arrangement. Based on the domain conflict is devided into two groups:
1. External conflict
The external conflict is the conflict between the characters and something outside the characters. The conflicts involve physical conflict that is the conflict of the characters against nature, and then the other conflict is social conflict that is caused by struggle between the characters against the society.
2. Internal conflict
On the other hand, internal conflict is the conflict that occurred by incidents in character mind. The internal conflict is the struggle that occurred between the character and his or her thought. The problem can be caused by the faiths, choices, desires, and hope.
Plot is known as an arrangement of some events to make up a good and unity story. In arranging something, it must be parts of elements to be arranged. According to James and Jeffrey (1981: 16-17), the writer is aware that plot structurally can be divided into five elements as below:
3. Exposition / Introduction
Exposition is the element of plot structure which contain of the introduction of the story background and the potential situation of conflict to enter the story. the exposition is consist of setting of place, setting of time, situation, characters, etc.
4. Complication / Raising action
Rising action is the further introduction of story that completing the exposition. It goes to increase the conflict to the more complicated problems to reach the climax or crises.
5. Crisis / Climax
Climax is the greatest point that reaches the most complicated problem of the story to be resolved by the characters. In this point, the reader will feel the most interesting point of the story.
6. Falling action
Falling action is the moments when the character has been able to come out from his difficulties. Therefore, the character has found his way to reach the goals as the conclusion of the story.
7. Resolution / Denouement
Resolution is the ending of the story. At this moment, the reader will find what finally happened in the last of the story. The author sometimes will give a further explanation of the story. Therefore, the reader will make no mistake in understanding the outcome.
Based on the structurally arrangement of the elements above, the writer found that plot is classified into three kinds as below (Diyyani, 2004:43):
a. Original plot
In the original plot, the author tells the story begins from the exposition and then continues to the rising action and the highest event or problem in climax after that falling action and resolution.
b. Flash back
In flash back, the writer tells the story when the story actually has happened in the last, this story only remind the event in the last. Then the story begins as the chronological progress events of the end of the story that has been known.
c. In Medias res
In medias res, the writer tells the story begins from exciting moment and then back to the beginning or exposition and then continues until resolution.
3. METHOD
The writer uses objective approach to analyze the plot of the novel. The writer uses this approach since it studies the literary work intrinsically by analyzing the elements of literary work. The structuralists usually regard that the relationship between elements are more important that the entities themselves (Subhan, 2003). The writer also uses qualitative method to analyze the plot of the story in the novel The Run since this setting is natural and the data derived is based on documentation data (Sugiyono, 2001)
4. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS
In the process of analysis, the writer uses the theory of James and Jeffrey in order to determine the kinds of stage of the story.
a. The Kinds of Plot Structure
1. Exposition
“United States Senator William Henry Lee IV and his wife, Katharine Rule Lee, drove away from Georgetown house in their Chevrolet Suburban early on a December morning. There was the promise of snow in the air.” (Chapter 1 page 1)
The statement above tells that, in page 1, the beginning of the story, the author tells about the main character, his job, his wife, and setting of time and place. The main character is Will Lee. His job is an American senator that represents the state of Georgia. He has been married and his wife’s name is Kate. Therefore, the writer can conclude the statement that it is an exposition of the story.
2. Complication
Will knew that Kiel would likely be his biggest opposition. “Tempting, isn’t it?” “Sure is. You know damn well I’ll run. What about you, no kidding?” (Chapter 14 page 82)
The statement above tells that George Kiel states that he certainly will run to the nomination of the Democrat Party candidacy. Will Lee face a new problem, because Kiel is one of famous senators in Democrat Party also beside him? Kiel is strong enough to against Will. So, it will not easy for Will Lee to defeat Kiel. The writer concludes that this is a complication part of the story because in this event the main character got a big enemy that might defeats and resists him from reaching his dream.
3. Climax
“Two things: First, Larry Eugene Moody’s appeal has been rejected by the Supreme Court. He is scheduled to die on the Saturday night before the Tuesday election,”“Alright, we’ll be ready for it. You said two things; what else is happening?” “Eft has backed out of the Chicago debate.” “What?” (Chapter 56 page 321)
The statement above means, Sam tells Will that Larry Moody does not get any dispensation the Supreme Court and will be executed before the election. Sam also tells an information that Efton canceled his schedule of Chicago debate. Those are really bad situation for Will Lee because if Larry Moody’s execution is happen before the last presidential debate, the Republican candidate will have a deadly weapon to defeat him in the debate. The early coming of Efton is no other except to prepare for the debate. This is very crucial moment for Will Lee to think about how to absolve Larry Moody because only Bill Mackey, the governor of Georgia, who can do it but he is a Republican. It looks like an impossible hope. Moreover, Eft has come back early from his campaign in order to prepare for the debate well. Therefore, the writer concludes that this moment is the climax of the story because it has the highest emotional intensity.
4. Falling Action
“That look, that angle on the boobs, that invitation. Bill Mackey reputedly has a Clintonesque weakness for women, and he’s not accustomed encountering many as beautiful as you That’s your best shot, Charlene, believe me.” (Chapter 59 page 336)
In the next event above, Will meets Charlene that visits him to ask for help from Will. Will Lee is having conversation with Charlene about the possibility to safe Larry Moody. Suddenly, Will remembers about a weakness of John F. Kennedy for beautiful woman. Will Lee knows the reputation that Bill Mackey has a weakness for women. So, he asks to Charlene to persuade Bill to give clemency to Larry moody. The statement above indicates that the greatest problem has found the solution. Therefore, the writer can conclude that the story has turn to the falling action.
“The Governor began to speak. “I have been reviewing in great detail the clemency request of Larry Eugene Moody whose final appeal was recently turned down by the Supreme Court.” (Chapter 61 page 342)
The statement above means after meeting Charlene, the beautiful woman, Bill Mackey decides to give clemency to Larry Moody. It means that the problem has resolved then Will can run the debate without any afraid again. The writer concludes that this event is a falling action of the story.
5. Resolution
“Wave at the people, dear,” she said. “Try not to look semiconscious.” Will waved at the crowd and held up the newspaper, to the crowd’s delight. “Smile,” Kate said. “President have to smile a lot.” Will smiled, showing all the teeth he had. (Chapter 66 page 363)
The statement above means that Will gets up as usual but he don’t know what the result is. His wife, Kate, holds his hand and asks him to wave to the crowd of people that is waiting to see him. Will is surprised. Then he realizes that he has won the election. He is very happy. The struggles of the presidential election has been finished. The writer concludes that this is the resolution section.
He looked into the crowd of one hundred thousand inauguration attendees and and into the lenses that connected him with a hundred million other of his countrymen. “My fellow Americans,” he began…. (Chapter 67 page 368)
In the statement above, Will Lee stands in front of hundred thousand American people that attend his inauguration as their president. That is his first day to work as a president. Will begins his first speech. At the last of the story, finally he reaches his ambition. This event tells about the ending of the story. Therefore, the writer concludes that this is also the section of resolution.
Based on the evidences stated above, the writer can conclude that the author uses original plot because of the chronological time sequence. The picture of the plot structure is drawn as follows:
Here are the reasons why it is chosen:
a. It is a Fictional Story
The novel analyzed by writer is included the fiction story. Based on Diyyani’s theory, original plot is the plot that commonly uses in the fictional story.
b. Chronological Story in the Novel is in sequence
Based on the proofs that are found in the story, the writer finds the stages of the plot such as Exposition, Complication, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. From the beginning until the end of the story, the writer can take conclusion that the plot structure is being used by the author is Original Plot structure because, the stages of plot are arranged like the shape-bell curve.
c. The readers easily understand the story
By using that kind of plot structure, original plot, the readers easily understand toward the idea and the chronology of the story conveyed by the author. The chronology of the story can be made in sequence so the readers quickly comprehend it.
In conclusion, there are some reasons why the author uses this original plot of structure. They are fictional story, the chronological story of the story is in sequence, and the readers easily understand it.
5. CONCLUSION
After the writer reads and analyzes the data found in the novel, he finds the stages of the plot completely. They are exposition, complication or raising action, crisis or climax, falling action, and resolution. It shows when the beginning of the story tells about the character of the story in the exposition stage. After that, the story provide some problems that come to him because his decision, the complication stage begin. In stage of crisis, the most complicated problem happens which puts the character in the worse situation. Continue to the falling action, the problems are resolved one by one. In the resolution, the character gets his result of his struggles.
Related to the proofs, the writer easily comprehends the plot of the story. Based on the proofs, he simply concludes that the plot used there, is original because of the chronological time of the story. The chronological of the story is well described like this: Exposition-Complication-Climax-Falling action-Resolution.
The writer finds some reasons why the author uses the certain plot, original plot structure. The author has three reasons; the novel is telling about a fictional story, original plot structure can convey the story chronologically, and the readers are able to understand the story written in the novel easily.
6. REFERENCES
Abrams, M.H. (1999). A Glossary of Literary Terms. Boston. Earl Mcpeek.
Diyyani, R. (2004). Literature Approaches to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. New York. McGraw-Hill.
Gill, R. (2006). Mastering English Literature. New York. Palgrave MacMillan.
Hudson,W.H. (1913). An Introduction to The Study of Literature.London. Portsmouth Street Kingway.
Kennedy, X.J. (2007). Literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. New York. Longman Publisher.
Kenney, W. (1996). How to Analyze Fiction. New York. Monarch Press.
Pickering, J & Hoeper, J. (1981). Concise Companion to Literature, New York. MacMillan.
Subhan, B. (2003). A guide to literary criticism. Yogyakarta: Debut Press.