How do plot and story drive a novel forward?

In literature, the terms "story" and "plot" are distinct, though both serve to propel a novel forward. As defined by E.M. Forster, a story is a narrative of events arranged in their time-sequence, whereas a plot organizes those events according to a sense of causality.1

The plot acts as the structural device that drives a novel through its length, often originating from a simple "nuclear" idea or situation. While a story provides the chronological sequence, the plot involves the author’s conscious selection and arrangement of actions to control the reader's emotional responses, such as interest and anxiety.21

Novelists use the plot to navigate the tension between representing the formless nature of real life and constructing a balanced, artistic artifact. While some novels rely on a succession of chance incidents—such as the picaresque novel—others utilize psychological situations, metaphysical frameworks, or character consciousness to maintain momentum. Ultimately, any scheme that credibly expresses human life can serve to hold a novel together, provided it offers the reader a sense of illumination or artistic satisfaction.2