Story Mountain

Introduction/Exposition

Rising Action

Climax/High Point

Falling Action

Resolution/Denouement

A More Realistic Story Mountain

EXPOSITION: Characters and setting are introduced.

RISING ACTION: Characters are faced with problems and must continually overcome problems.

CLIMAX: The story reaches a critical turning point. Tension has reached its highest point. The problem/conflict is addressed or confronted.

FALLING ACTION: Tension eases because the problem/conflict has been resolved (in a good or bad way) and the story is brought to a close

RESOLUTION: Everything has been worked out (for better or worse) and the story ends with a character/narrator reflection

Exposition

• The brief part of the story where you meet the characters, learn about the setting that they are in, and find out about the situation the characters

initially find themselves dealing with.

• Presents facts necessary to understanding the story.

• REMEMBER: When writing a narrative piece, you can’t jump right in where the prompt left off. Instead, you must first do the points listed above.

AN OVERLY SIMPLIFIELD EXAMPLE (your story should be much more descriptive, detailed, and LONGER!):

Our hero is a brave knight who lives in a village. The princess has been taken by an evil dragon. The king says anyone who will rescue his daughter will have a great reward. Our hero volunteers and everyone else thinks he's a great guy.

Rising Action

• This is where the character(s) begin to struggle and run into challenging situations.

• The Rising Action is usually the greatest/longest portion of the story (it’s the MEAT of your story). Suspense is being built!

AN OVERLY SIMPLIFIELD EXAMPLE (yours should be much more descriptive, detailed, and LONGER!):

This phase unveils all of the trials and tribulations that the hero must overcome in order to save the princess or capture the dragon.

Climax

• This is the TURNING POINT of the story.

• This is where you find the RESULT of the crisis/problem/conflict from earlier in the story (the character takes action).

• Frequently, though not all the time, this is the moment of highest interest and greatest emotion (this is the most suspenseful part of the story!)

• The problem comes to an end here… either in a good way or a bad way.

AN OVERLY SIMPLIFIELD EXAMPLE (yours should be much more descriptive, detailed, and LONGER!):

• GOOD: In an instant, our hero proves himself and saves the princess or captures the dragon. • BAD: The hero saves the princess, but the dragon gets away and continues to wreak havoc in other kingdoms.• REALLY BAD: The hero is killed after a long and drawn out battle.

Falling Action

• The events after the climax which bring the story to a close.

• Usually not very long or drawn out.

AN OVERLY SIMPLIFIELD EXAMPLE (yours should be much more descriptive, detailed, and LONGER!):

This is the ride home, where our hero has the princess on his white horse and the dragon tied to his wagon behind them. They talk, he tells some clever jokes, he may kiss the princess, and things are looking up for the hero.

Resolution

• Rounds out and concludes the action and the story as a whole.

• Often, a lesson can be learned here (REMEMBER: this is where the reader may realize the THEME or underlying message of the story).

• A character reflection of the situation he/she encountered can be narrated (ex: From then on, Casey knew that no matter what dilemmas she faced in life, she could get through them with her dignity intact.)

AN OVERLY SIMPLIFIELD EXAMPLE (yours should be much more descriptive, detailed, and LONGER!):

This is where the king gives the hero the hand of the princess in marriage, they barbeque the dragon, and they all live happily ever after.

Speculative ExampleIf they weren't in such a hurry, they wouldn't have taken that short cutthrough the cemetery . . .

What happens in the cemetery? How do they react? What do they do? How do they get through the situation?

Let’s brainstorm a story on the story mountain about what happens next.