PLOT STRUCTURE

3 - Risi

ng Acti

on

4 - Crisis

2 - Inciting Incident 7- Resolution

1 - Exposition 6 - Falling Action

5 -Climax

EXPOSITION• The part of the story at or very near the

beginning where we might learn background information.

• We might learn where and when the story takes place.

• We might learn who the story is about.• We might learn about any problems or conflicts

that might be important.• We might learn about certain topics or themes

that might be important.

Inciting Incident

• The Inciting Incident is the part of the story usually right after the Exposition where the main character(the Protagonist) makes a decision or does something to get the story started.

For example, in Romeo and Juliet, Romeo decides to go to the Capulet ball. By doing so, he meets Juliet and the story gets underway.

If he did not decide to go to the ball, he would not have met Juliet and the story would not have been as we know it.

Rising Action

• The Rising Action refers to all of the important or significant events or developments that occur between the Inciting Incident and the Crisis. Characters can go through changes during this stage. Previous conflicts or problems can get better or worse. New conflicts or problems can emerge.

Crisis

• The Crisis is the part of the story near the end where the main character (the Protagonist) makes a decision or does something that, ultimately, ends in a positive or negative outcome.

• In Romeo and Juliet, for example, Romeo decides to get married in secret. That decision ends up in the negative outcome of Romeo’s death.

Climax

• The climax is simply the part of the story where the main character (the Protagonist)

experiences the positive or negative outcome resulting from the crisis.

In Romeo and Juliet, the climax is when Romeo dies (if that is who you chose as the protagonist).

Falling Action

• This is the part of the story between the climax and the Resolution.

During the falling action, all of the significant problems or conflicts that remain are addressed.

In Romeo and Juliet, for example, the on-going fued between the Capulets and the Montagues is dealt with by the Prince.

Resolution

• This is the part of the story where the problems or conflicts are resolved or there is a suggestion that they will likely be resolved in the future.

• However, some stories end with the suggestion that the problems or conflicts will never be resolved but that, at least, brings closure to the issues.

That is all there is to plot structure.