Plot vs. Scheme — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 27, 2023
A plot is a sequence of events in a story; a scheme is a plan or design often with a specific purpose.
Difference Between Plot and Scheme
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The word "plot" is primarily associated with storytelling. It represents the sequence of events, the rise and fall of tension, and the overall progression of a narrative. It's what readers or viewers follow when engaging with a book or movie. On the other hand, "scheme" typically pertains to plans or designs. It might be a blueprint for a building, a strategy for a business, or sometimes, a secret plan with dubious intentions.
In literature, a plot drives the narrative forward. It consists of the introduction, development, climax, and resolution of a story. This structured unfolding of events keeps readers engaged and invested in the story's outcome. Conversely, a scheme doesn't necessarily have a narrative element. While a plot unfolds organically, a scheme is often more calculated, aiming to achieve a particular outcome or goal.
When the word "scheme" is used in the context of plans or strategies, it doesn't always carry a negative connotation. For instance, a color scheme is simply a combination of colors. However, "plot" in its verb form can mean planning something secretly, especially something illicit, aligning its meaning closer to the more nefarious definition of "scheme."
A plot can be found in all forms of storytelling – novels, plays, movies, and more. It's essential for maintaining a story's pace, developing characters, and delivering a satisfying conclusion. A scheme, on the other hand, is pervasive in various contexts, from innocent planning like a workout scheme to more sinister intentions like a scheme to defraud someone.
Interestingly, while the two words can sometimes be used interchangeably, especially when denoting secret plans, they predominantly occupy different spaces in the English lexicon. "Plot" dominates the world of storytelling, and "scheme" prevails in planning and design.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Association
Storytelling
Planning or design
Structure
Sequence of events in a narrative
A design or plan with a purpose
Connotation
Neutral, related to narrative
Can be neutral or negative, based on context
Usage Domain
Literature, film, theater
Business, design, strategy
Interchangeability
Sometimes, especially when referring to plan
Sometimes, especially in secretive contexts
Compare with Definitions
Plot
A piece of land
He bought a small plot for his new house.
Scheme
A systematic plan or arrangement
He had a scheme to renovate the old house.
Plot
Graphical representation of data
The plot showed a steep increase in sales.
Scheme
A design or pattern
The room had a blue and white color scheme.
Plot
The act of devising a plan
She was good at plotting strategies.
Scheme
A secret or underhanded plan
The villain hatched a scheme to take over the city.
Plot
A plan made in secret by a group of people to do something illegal or harmful
There's a plot to overthrow the government
Scheme
A systematic plan of action
"Did you ever carry out your scheme of writing a series of sonnets embodying all the great epochs of art?" (Edith Wharton).
Plot
The main events of a play, novel, film, or similar work, devised and presented by the writer as an interrelated sequence
The plot consists almost entirely of a man and woman falling in love
He outlined his idea for a movie plot
Scheme
A secret or devious plan; a plot
A scheme to defraud investors.
Plot
A small piece of ground marked out for a purpose such as building or gardening
A vegetable plot
Scheme
An orderly plan or arrangement of related parts
An irrigation scheme with dams, reservoirs, and channels.
Plot
A graph showing the relation between two variables.
Scheme
A chart, diagram, or outline of a system or object.
Plot
Secretly make plans to carry out (an illegal or harmful action)
The two men are serving sentences for plotting a bomb campaign
Brother plots against brother
Scheme
To contrive a plan or scheme for; plot
Scheming their revenge.
Plot
Devise the sequence of events in (a play, novel, film, or similar work)
In a crime story you have to plot carefully to achieve the surprise at the end
She would plot a chapter as she drove
Scheme
To make plans, especially secret or devious ones.
Plot
Mark (a route or position) on a chart
He started to plot lines of ancient sites
Scheme
An artful deviation from the ordinary arrangement of words.
Plot
A small piece of ground, generally used for a specific purpose
A garden plot.
Scheme
(astrology) A representation of the aspects of the celestial bodies for any moment or at a given event.
Plot
A measured area of land; a lot.
Scheme
A systematic plan of future action.
Plot
A ground plan, as for a building; a diagram.
Scheme
A plot or secret, devious plan.
Plot
See graph1.
Scheme
An orderly combination of related parts.
Plot
The pattern or sequence of interrelated events in a work of fiction, as a novel or film.
Scheme
A chart or diagram of a system or object.
Plot
A secret plan to accomplish a hostile or illegal purpose; a scheme.
Scheme
(mathematics) A mathematical structure that enlarges the notion of algebraic variety in several ways, such as taking account of multiplicities and allowing "varieties" defined over any commutative ring (e.g. Fermat curves over the integers).
Plot
To represent graphically, as on a chart
Plot a ship's course.
Scheme
A council housing estate.
Plot
To locate (points or other figures) on a graph by means of coordinates.
Scheme
(internet) Part of a uniform resource identifier indicating the protocol or other purpose, such as
http: or news:.Plot
To draw (a curve) connecting points on a graph.
Scheme
A portfolio of pension plans with related benefits comprising multiple independent members.
Plot
To write or develop the plot of
"I began plotting novels at about the time I learned to read" (James Baldwin).
Scheme
(intransitive) To plot, or contrive a plan.
Plot
To form a plot for; prearrange secretly or deviously
Plot an assassination.
Scheme
(transitive) To plan; to contrive.
Plot
To form or take part in a plot; scheme
Were plotting for months before the attack.
Scheme
A combination of things connected and adjusted by design; a system.
The appearance and outward scheme of things.
Such a scheme of things as shall at once take in time and eternity.
Arguments . . . sufficient to support and demonstrate a whole scheme of moral philosophy.
The Revolution came and changed his whole scheme of life.
Plot
To write or develop the plot for a work of fiction
A good mystery writer must plot well.
Scheme
A plan or theory something to be done; a design; a project; as, to form a scheme.
The stoical scheme of supplying our wants by lopping off our desires, is like cutting off our feet when we want shoes.
Plot
(narratology) The course of a story, comprising a series of incidents which are gradually unfolded, sometimes by unexpected means.
Scheme
Any lineal or mathematical diagram; an outline.
To draw an exact scheme of Constantinople, or a map of France.
Plot
An area or land used for building on or planting on.
Scheme
A representation of the aspects of the celestial bodies for any moment or at a given event.
A blue silk case, from which was drawn a scheme of nativity.
He forms the well-concerted scheme of mischief;'T is fixed, 't is done, and both are doomed to death.
Artists and plans relieved my solemn hours;I founded palaces, and planted bowers.
Plot
A graph or diagram drawn by hand or produced by a mechanical or electronic device.
Scheme
To make a scheme of; to plan; to design; to project; to plot.
That wickedness which schemed, and executed, his destruction.
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.
Scheme
To form a scheme or schemes.
Plot
Contrivance; deep reach thought; ability to plot or intrigue.
Scheme
An elaborate and systematic plan of action
Plot
Participation in any stratagem or conspiracy.
Scheme
A statement that evades the question by cleverness or trickery
Plot
A plan; a purpose.
Scheme
A group of independent but interrelated elements comprising a unified whole;
A vast system of production and distribution and consumption keep the country going
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.
Scheme
An internal representation of the world; an organization of concepts and actions that can be revised by new information about the world
Plot
To conceive (a crime, misdeed etc).
They had plotted a robbery.
They were plotting against the king.
Scheme
A schematic or preliminary plan
Plot
(transitive) To trace out (a graph or diagram).
They plotted the number of edits per day.
Scheme
Form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner
Plot
(transitive) To mark (a point on a graph, chart, etc).
Every five minutes they plotted their position.
Scheme
Devise a system or form a scheme for
Plot
A small extent of ground; a plat; as, a garden plot.
Scheme
A large-scale systematic plan or arrangement for attaining some particular object or putting a particular idea into effect
The new educational scheme was launched.
Plot
A plantation laid out.
Plot
A plan or draught of a field, farm, estate, etc., drawn to a scale.
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!
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.
Plot
Contrivance; deep reach of thought; ability to plot or intrigue.
Plot
A plan; a purpose.
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
The main events of a story
The plot of the novel was thrilling.
Plot
A secret plan to achieve something, often illicit
They discovered a plot against the king.
Common Curiosities
Does a plot always involve storytelling?
Primarily yes, but it can also refer to a piece of land or a secret plan.
Can scheme refer to a design pattern?
Yes, for instance, a "color scheme" in design.
Is plot development essential in storytelling?
Yes, it ensures progression and maintains audience interest.
Can scheme have a positive connotation?
Yes, not all schemes are dubious; some refer to simple plans or designs.
Is a plot always fiction?
No, plots can be in non-fiction narratives as well.
Is the plot structure universal?
Many cultures have similar plot structures, but there can be variations.
Is every plot a scheme?
No, while both can refer to planning, they have distinct primary meanings.
Can a scheme be in a narrative?
Yes, characters in stories can have schemes.
Do all schemes have secret intentions?
No, many schemes are just open plans or strategies.
Can a story have multiple plots?
Yes, there can be main plots and subplots in a narrative.
What's a "pyramid scheme"?
It's a form of investment where returns are paid using capital from newer investors.
Is every scheme well-planned?
Not necessarily; some schemes can be hastily formed.
Can a scheme be spontaneous?
Typically, schemes are more deliberate, but they can be formed on the spur of the moment.
Can "plot" refer to planning something?
Yes, in contexts like "plotting a course" or "plotting revenge."
Do schemes always come to fruition?
No, like any plan, they can fail or change.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
