What is the answer for the blank?

characters
philippe
samuel
samuel's uncle

setting
afternoon
a lake
a boat
swans


the three set out in a boat.
samuel's uncle rows the boat.
philippe feeds the swans.
they see a swan near a rock.

conflict
the boys notice a swan that is caught in a net.
they have to decide what to do about the swan.

I think your answer for the blank is plot.

Explanation:

There are 5 different parts to a story; the characters, the setting, the plot, the conflict, and the resolution.

in the quotation from passage, connie willis states that literature is a way for authors from the past to communicate with readers of today. we can read their stories, books, and other texts to learn lessons about life. willis refers to these lessons as messages “from beyond the grave.” willis has a favorable viewpoint about the timelessness of literature.