Looking for novel outline examples? You’ve come to the right place. In this blog, we will give you novel outline examples of classic books, and give you a free novel outline template to write your own outline.
How to Write a Novel Outline
Before we get into novel outline examples, let’s briefly discuss how to write linear outline. There are a few different ways to approach outlining your novel. You could fly by the seat of your pants, like all good pansters (aka, no pre-determined outline). Or you could use a tried and true outline like the Save the Cat story structure or the Five-Stage plot structure.
Regardless of your methodology as a writer, when you write novel outlines, you generally want to include an introduction, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
Let’s talk about what each of those things are.
In the novel outline examples below, you will see inciting events. The inciting incident in a novel is the moment that sets the main story in motion and disrupts the protagonist’s normal life. For example, when Harry Potter receives his invitation letter from Hogwarts.
The rising action is the series of events that follow the inciting event and build up the central conflict of the story. This is where tension and suspense start to increase, as the protagonist faces challenges, obstacles, and decisions that drive the plot forward.
The climax is the turning point or high point of the story, where the tension reaches its peak. It’s usually the most exciting, emotional, or dramatic moment in the novel, and it represents the point of greatest conflict.
The falling action occurs after the climax, where the tension begins to ease, and the story starts moving toward its resolution. This is where the consequences of the protagonist’s actions or decisions are revealed, and the conflict starts to wind down.
Last but not least, you will see a resolution in our novel outline examples. The resolution is the final part of the story where the conflicts are resolved, and the narrative comes to a satisfying conclusion. This is where any remaining mysteries are explained, and the characters’ futures or final fates are revealed.
If you can briefly jot down all of these plot points, you will have a solid outline for your story.
[sps_bot_generator]3 Novel Outline Examples
Here are some novel outline examples of classic novels:
1. Pride and Prejudice
Author: Jane Austen
Published: 1813
I. Introduction
- Setting: Early 19th-century England, mainly around the Bennet family estate in Hertfordshire.
- The Bennet Family: The story revolves around the Bennet family, particularly the five Bennet sisters: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Catherine (Kitty), and Lydia. Their mother, Mrs. Bennet, is eager to marry them off to wealthy suitors, as the family estate is entailed away from the Bennet daughters.
II. Inciting Event
- Arrival of Mr. Bingley: The wealthy and charming Mr. Charles Bingley moves into the nearby Netherfield Park. He quickly becomes attracted to the eldest Bennet daughter, Jane.
- Mr. Darcy’s Entrance: Mr. Bingley’s friend, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, is introduced. Darcy is aloof, proud, and initially dismissive of the local society. He appears arrogant and critical, particularly towards Elizabeth Bennet, who overhears him calling her “tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.”
III. Rising Action
- Jane and Bingley’s Growing Affection: Jane and Mr. Bingley develop a mutual affection, but Bingley is influenced by Mr. Darcy’s concerns about Jane’s lower social standing.
- Elizabeth and Darcy’s Tension: Elizabeth becomes increasingly aware of Darcy’s pride and condescension. Darcy, meanwhile, begins to develop a growing admiration for Elizabeth’s intelligence and wit, though he struggles with her lower status.
- The Netherfield Ball: At a local ball, Darcy’s distant behavior and the emerging affection between Jane and Bingley further cement Elizabeth’s negative opinion of him.
- Darcy’s Proposal: Darcy unexpectedly proposes to Elizabeth, but she rejects him angrily, accusing him of interfering in Jane’s relationship with Bingley and of wronging Mr. Wickham, a soldier who shares a complex history with Darcy.
IV. Midpoint
- Darcy’s Letter: After the rejection, Darcy writes a letter to Elizabeth explaining his actions. He admits to separating Jane and Bingley, but defends his actions toward Wickham, revealing that Wickham tried to elope with his sister, Georgiana. This revelation changes Elizabeth’s view of Darcy.
- Elizabeth’s Changing Perception: Elizabeth begins to reassess her judgment of Darcy, finding his explanations reasonable, though she is still conflicted about his pride.
V. Climax
- The Visit to Pemberley: Elizabeth and her relatives visit Darcy’s grand estate, Pemberley. There, Elizabeth sees a different side of Darcy—his kindness toward his servants, his generosity, and his genuine affection for his sister. Darcy is visibly happy to see her, and they begin to grow closer.
- Lydia’s Elopement: News arrives that Lydia, the youngest Bennet sister, has run off with Mr. Wickham. This threatens to ruin the entire Bennet family’s reputation.
- Darcy’s Role in the Rescue: Darcy secretly intervenes and ensures that Lydia and Wickham are married, saving the Bennet family from scandal. Elizabeth becomes increasingly grateful and admiring of him.
VI. Falling Action
- Darcy and Elizabeth’s Mutual Admiration: Darcy’s actions show his character transformation, and Elizabeth recognizes his sincerity. She is no longer blinded by her prejudice against him.
- Bingley’s Return: Mr. Bingley returns to Netherfield, and he rekindles his relationship with Jane. The two are soon engaged.
VII. Resolution
- Darcy and Elizabeth’s Engagement: In a heartfelt conversation, Darcy proposes to Elizabeth again, this time with humility and respect. Elizabeth accepts, and they become engaged, having overcome their personal prejudices and misunderstandings.
- Happily Ever After: The novel concludes with Darcy and Elizabeth’s marriage, the reconciliation of the Bennet family, and the eventual happiness of Jane and Bingley.
2. Frankenstein
Author: Mary Shelley
Published: 1818
I. Introduction
- Setting: The novel is set in various locations across Europe, starting with the icy landscapes of the Arctic and shifting to Geneva, Switzerland, Ingolstadt in Germany, and the Swiss Alps.
- Narration: The story is framed as a series of letters written by Robert Walton, an Arctic explorer, to his sister Margaret Saville in England. These letters introduce the tale of Victor Frankenstein, which Walton learns during his encounter with Frankenstein in the Arctic.
II. The Beginning of Victor Frankenstein’s Story
- Victor’s Early Life: Victor Frankenstein begins by telling Walton his own story. He is born into a wealthy family in Geneva, Switzerland, and is the eldest child of his parents. From an early age, Victor shows a deep fascination with science, particularly the study of alchemy and the natural world.
- University of Ingolstadt: Victor attends the University of Ingolstadt to study natural philosophy and chemistry. Here, he becomes consumed by his scientific curiosity and ambition. He begins studying the secrets of life and death, aiming to create life artificially.
- The Creation of the Monster: After years of obsessive work, Victor successfully brings a human-like creature to life. However, the moment the creature awakens, Victor is horrified by its grotesque appearance. He abandons the creature, fleeing in terror.
III. Rising Action: The Creature’s Life and Revenge
- The Creature’s Isolation: The creature, abandoned and alone, learns about the world by observing humans. He experiences kindness and cruelty, especially from a family he secretly watches. The creature gains an understanding of language, history, and emotion, but he is constantly rejected due to his monstrous appearance.
- The Creature’s Demand for Justice: After being rejected by society and experiencing isolation, the creature confronts Victor. He demands that Victor create a female companion for him, someone who will not judge him for his looks. The creature argues that, with a mate, he will leave humanity in peace and avoid further destruction.
- Victor’s Dilemma: Torn between the creature’s request and the potential consequences, Victor initially agrees but later changes his mind, fearing the disastrous implications of creating another creature. This decision enrages the creature, who vows vengeance on Victor.
IV. Climax: The Creature’s Revenge
- The Death of William Frankenstein: The creature murders Victor’s younger brother, William, and frames Justine Moritz, a servant girl, for the crime. Justine is executed, and Victor is filled with guilt and anger, realizing that his creation is responsible for the death.
- The Creature’s Confrontation with Victor: The creature confronts Victor in the mountains and accuses him of creating a life of suffering. He demands a female companion to end his loneliness and misery. Victor reluctantly agrees but begins to fear the implications of his actions.
- Victor’s Decision Not to Create a Mate: As Victor begins work on the female creature, he has a change of heart and destroys his progress, fearing the possibility of creating a race of monsters. The creature vows that Victor will regret this decision.
V. Falling Action: Destruction and Pursuit
- The Creature’s Continued Revenge: In response to Victor’s destruction of the second creature, the monster continues his campaign of revenge, killing Victor’s friends and family.
- The Murder of Henry Clerval: Victor’s close friend Henry Clerval is murdered by the creature.
- The Death of Elizabeth Frankenstein: On the night of Victor’s marriage to his fiancée, Elizabeth, the creature murders her, sealing Victor’s tragic fate.
- Victor’s Pursuit of the Creature: Driven by a need for revenge, Victor embarks on a relentless pursuit of the creature across Europe, eventually ending up in the Arctic. There, he collapses from exhaustion and is rescued by Walton.
VI. Conclusion
- Victor’s Death: Victor dies aboard Walton’s ship, his life consumed by his obsession with revenge. Before he dies, he tells Walton to avoid the pursuit of knowledge at any cost, warning against blind ambition.
- The Creature’s Final Speech: After Victor’s death, the creature appears on the ship, expressing his sorrow and regret over the deaths he caused. He tells Walton that he plans to end his own life by setting himself on fire, thus ending his misery.
- The Creature’s Disappearance: The novel ends with the creature disappearing into the Arctic darkness, leaving the reader with a sense of unresolved tragedy.
3. Jane Eyre
Author: Charlotte Brontë
Published: 1847
I. Introduction / Early Life
- Setting: The novel begins in the early 19th century in England, primarily at Gateshead Hall and later Thornfield Hall, with some key events occurring in the surrounding countryside.
- Main Character: Jane Eyre, the orphaned daughter of a wealthy merchant, is taken in by her aunt, Mrs. Reed, at Gateshead Hall. Jane is mistreated and neglected by her aunt and cousins.
- Jane’s Childhood:
- Jane is treated as an outsider, subjected to emotional and physical abuse by her cousins. She is sent to Lowood School, an institution for orphaned girls, where she suffers under the harsh conditions but befriends Helen Burns, a kind and philosophical girl who dies from illness.
- At Lowood, Jane receives an education and grows into a thoughtful, self-reliant young woman, learning to be strong in the face of hardship.
II. Rising Action: Employment at Thornfield
- Leaving Lowood: After completing her education at Lowood, Jane takes a job as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she is hired to teach Adèle Varens, the young ward of the mysterious and wealthy master of the house, Mr. Edward Rochester.
- Meeting Mr. Rochester: Jane and Mr. Rochester initially have a complex and tense relationship. He is often stern, but Jane is captivated by his wit and intelligence. They begin to form a bond of mutual respect, though there are hints of Rochester’s darker, more troubled side.
- Mysterious Events: Strange things start happening at Thornfield:
- The Laughing Woman: Jane hears eerie laughter at night and sees disturbing occurrences around the house.
- Rochester’s Behavior: He seems to be hiding something, and Jane begins to sense that there are secrets about his past and his household that he isn’t revealing.
III. Climax: The Revelation and Jane’s Departure
- The Secret of Bertha Mason: During Jane and Rochester’s growing attraction, Jane is led to believe that Mr. Rochester might propose to her. However, at their wedding, the shocking truth is revealed: Rochester is already married to Bertha Mason, a madwoman locked away in the attic of Thornfield Hall. Bertha, who had been concealed from Jane, is the source of the strange laughter and events.
- Rochester’s Explanation: Rochester confesses that he married Bertha when he was young and unaware of her mental illness, and her family concealed her true condition. He kept her hidden for years in the attic, and the burden of this secret has tormented him.
- Rochester’s Explanation: Rochester confesses that he married Bertha when he was young and unaware of her mental illness, and her family concealed her true condition. He kept her hidden for years in the attic, and the burden of this secret has tormented him.
- Jane’s Departure: Devastated by the revelation, Jane leaves Thornfield, running away into the wilderness with no money, food, or direction.
IV. Falling Action: Jane’s Independence and Rescue
- Jane’s Struggle: After leaving Thornfield, Jane experiences severe hardship. She is homeless and on the brink of starvation but is eventually taken in by St. John Rivers, a kind but cold clergyman, and his two sisters, Diana and Mary. They provide her with shelter, and she finds employment as a teacher at a local school.
- Discovery of Her Family: While staying with the Rivers family, Jane discovers that she is related to them—they are her cousins. Jane also learns that her uncle, who had left her a fortune, has passed away, and she inherits a substantial sum of money.
V. Resolution: Return to Mr. Rochester
- St. John’s Proposal: St. John Rivers proposes to Jane, urging her to marry him and go with him as a missionary to India. Though Jane admires St. John’s noble character, she realizes that she cannot marry him because she doesn’t love him.
- Return to Thornfield: Jane, now financially independent, is compelled by an inner call to return to Thornfield. When she arrives, she discovers that Thornfield has burned down, and Rochester tried to save his wife, Bertha, but was injured in the process. He lost his eyesight and a hand in the fire.
- Reunion with Rochester: Jane reunites with Rochester, now blind and living in a modest cottage. They confess their love for each other, and Jane marries Rochester. She is finally able to forgive him, and they find happiness together.
VI. Conclusion
- Happily Ever After: The novel ends with Jane reflecting on her life. She and Rochester find peace and contentment in their marriage. Despite Rochester’s physical disabilities, they are spiritually and emotionally fulfilled. They have a son together, and Jane asserts her independence, having built a life of love and mutual respect with Rochester.
As you can see from the examples above, great novels follow a clear story arc—one that moves readers from introduction to resolution with tension, emotion, and transformation along the way. Whether you’re outlining a classic love story like Pride and Prejudice, a gothic tragedy like Frankenstein, or a journey of self-discovery like Jane Eyre, a solid novel outline helps you bring structure and purpose to your storytelling.