Navigation
Examining the arc of a play from the initial exposition to the final resolution.
Have you ever wondered why some stories keep you glued to your seat while others make you want to check your phone? It’s all about the 'shape' of the story—a hidden blueprint that playwrights use to control your heart rate.
Every play begins with the Exposition. Think of this as the 'status quo.' It introduces the setting, the characters, and the basic situation. However, a story doesn't truly move until the Inciting Incident occurs. This is the 'spark' or the specific event that disrupts the characters' lives and forces them to take action. Without this spark, there is no story—just people living their normal lives. In a script, the exposition is often delivered through dialogue or stage directions that hint at past events.
1. Exposition: We meet Cinderella, her cruel stepmother, and the setting of their home. 2. Inciting Incident: An invitation to the Royal Ball arrives. This is the 'spark' because it creates a goal (going to the ball) and a conflict (the stepmother saying no).
Quick Check
What is the term for the specific event that 'kicks off' the main conflict of the play?
Answer
The Inciting Incident.
The Rising Action is usually the longest part of the play. It consists of a series of obstacles and complications that build tension. Each scene should raise the stakes, making it harder for the protagonist to succeed. This leads directly to the Climax. The Climax is the 'turning point' or the moment of highest emotional intensity. It is the 'point of no return' where the protagonist makes a final decision or faces their greatest challenge. If the plot were a mountain, the Climax is the very peak.
In a mystery play: 1. Rising Action: The detective finds a bloody glove (Tension +1). The lights go out in the mansion (Tension +2). The main suspect disappears (Tension +3). 2. Climax: The detective corners the killer in the attic, and the killer reveals their true identity. This is the moment of maximum intensity.
Quick Check
True or False: The Climax is always the very last scene of a play.
Answer
False. The Climax is the turning point, but it is followed by the falling action and resolution.
Once the Climax is over, the 'fever' of the story breaks. This is the Falling Action. In these scenes, the characters deal with the consequences of the Climax. Loose ends are tied up, and the tension begins to dissipate. Finally, we reach the Resolution (also called the denouement). This is the 'new normal.' The conflict is resolved, and while things might not be 'happily ever after,' the world of the play has reached a state of stability again.
Consider a play about a revolution: 1. Climax: The rebels successfully overthrow the tyrant in a final battle. 2. Falling Action: The rebels walk through the ruined city, realizing the cost of their victory. 3. Resolution: A new leader is sworn in. The 'new normal' is a world without a tyrant, but a world that must now be rebuilt. The scene shows the characters starting this work.
Which part of the plot arc is typically the longest and involves the protagonist facing multiple obstacles?
What is the 'Resolution' of a play?
The Climax is the point where the protagonist makes a choice that leads to the resolution of the conflict.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to sketch a 'plot mountain' from memory and label the five parts without looking at your notes.
Practice Activity
Watch a 20-minute episode of a TV show and try to identify the exact minute the 'Climax' occurs. What was the 'point of no return' for the character?