DRAMATIC ARC
Climax/Turning Point
(Middle)
Inciting Incident
Exposition
(Beginning)
Resolution
(End)
DRAMATIC ARC
(annotated)
Climax/Turning Point
(Middle)
A change—for better or worse—in the main character’s experience.
Difficulties confronted!
Obstacles overcome or NOT!
Obstacles are met, keeping the
objective out of reach.
Questions answered or NOT!
Tension increased and stakes raised.
In this Falling Action, the main
character either “wins” or
“loses” the objective.
Inciting Incident
Exposition
(Beginning)
Problem or conflict introduced, and stakes are set!
Main character’s goal/objective now known, and the journey begins!
A clear and concise setting of the scene
and intro of main character.
Aka “given circumstances” or “Once upon a time”.
Resolution
(End)
Conflicts are resolved, and new normalcy achieved.
The journey is completed and validated. Catharsis.
DRAMATIC ARC…and Character
Climax/Turning Point
(Middle)
Inciting Incident
Exposition
(Beginning)
Journey
=
Transformation
=
CHARACTER’s HOW
Resolution
(End)
DRAMATIC ARC…and Character
(annotated)
Climax/Turning Point
(Middle)
A change to one or more of the 5 Ws
Difficulties confronted!
Obstacles overcome or NOT!
Have character’s Ws changed?
So many obstacles faced when
trying to get the Why!
If so, does that help character
achieve the Why?
Character’s What informs the
choices (s)he makes to get the Why.
Inciting Incident
Conflict introduced,
which gives
character’s Why
Exposition
(Beginning)
Gives character’s Who,
What, Where, and When
Journey
=
Transformation
=
CHARACTER’s HOW
Resolution
(End)
The NEW Ws recognized.
The How has changed the Ws…for better or worse.