Transcript On the Bridge

On the Bridge
By Todd Strasser
Meet the Author
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Born in New York City on May 5 (he doesn’t
reveal his year of birth)
Studied at NYU for a few years before
dropping out.
He is the author of more than 120 young
adult books.
Meet the Author
Odd Facts about Strasser
- Lived on a commune
- Performed as a street musician in
Europe
- Manufactured fortune cookies
professionally
On the Bridge: VOCABULARY
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Abutments: (noun) the part of a
structure (as an arch or a bridge) that
directly receives thrust or pressure
Awestruck: (adj) filled with awe
Pliant: (adj) easily influenced; yielding
Smirk: (verb) to smile in an affected or
smug manner
Format for Plot Diagram
Rising Action – the part of the plot
that moves the story forward;
everything that leads up to the
climax
Climax - the turning point or the
point of highest interest; usually
toward the end of the story
Initiating event – the event
that makes everything else in
the story happen; can happen
before the story begins
Exposition – the beginning of the story;
include the setting, characters,
backgrounds, mood and tone
Falling Action – the part
of the plot that occurs
after the climax
Resolution – how the
story ends; how
everything turns out
Plot Elements
Directions: Use the following plot events from “On the Bridge” to fill in
your plot rollercoaster. You will have to fill in the exposition on your
own.
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Adam talks about “beating the crap” out
of a guy at the mall.
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Adam waves to a convertible full of girls.
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Adam acts like he is going to throw
something and nearly causes a woman to
have an accident.
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Adam flicks his cigarette onto a
black car.
Three guys that were in the black
car stop on the bridge, and begin
to harass Adam and Seth.
Adam points to Seth when the
three guys ask who flicked the
cigarette.
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The three guys tell Seth to lick the
cigarette ash off the windshield.
Seth refuses to lick the ash off the
windshield, and the “husky” guy
pounds his face into the windshield,
nearly breaking his nose.

Adam says the other guys had a
knife on him so he couldn’t help
Seth.
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Seth doesn’t believe Adam’s story
about the knife.
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Seth throws away his blood-stained
jacket.
Plot Diagram for
“On the Bridge”
Rising Action –
•Adam talks about beating up a guy at the mall.
Climax - Seth refuses to lick the ash
•Adam waves at a convertible full of girls.
off the windshield and gets his face
•Adam acts like he is going to throw something
and nearly causes a woman to have an accident. smashed
Falling Action –
•Adam flicks his cigarette onto the windshield of
a black car.
•Adam says the other
•Three guys in the black car get out at the bridge
guys had a knife.
and start harassing Adam and Seth.
•Adam points to Seth when the guys ask who
•Seth doesn’t believe
flicked the cigarette.
him.
•The three guys tell Seth to lick the ash off the
windshield.
Exposition – on a bridge on a spring
day; Characters include Adam, Seth
and the three goons; the mood is
serious
Resolution – Seth
throws away his
bloodstained jacket.