PLOT STRUCTURE: Climax and Resolution in short

stories

The bulk of most plots is made up of complications: the assorted actions that the
character takes to try to solve the conflict. In good stories, the complications are logically
related to each other and to the conflict.
The final settlement of the conflict comes in the climax, usually an event in which
the characters have to make a “Big Decision”. After the climax, there’s a finale, the
resolution, in which all the characters adapt to the “Big Decision” in one way or another.
The climax of a story comes near the story’s end. It’s a “Super Event” in which the
character or characters must finally make a decision, perform an action or reach an
understanding that grows out of these complications: one way or another, the conflict is
solved. You might show this visually via a “math problem”.

SOLVE THE CONFLICT

Event 1 + event 2 + event 3 + event 4 = PLOT
Event 4 = Super Event + Big Decision = CLIMAX
CLIMAX = CONFLICT SOLVED

.....................................................................................................................................
PLOT STRUCTURE: Climax and Resolution in short
stories

The bulk of most plots is made up of complications: the assorted actions that the
character takes to try to solve the conflict. In good stories, the complications are logically
related to each other and to the conflict.
The final settlement of the conflict comes in the climax, usually an event in which
the characters have to make a “Big Decision”. After the climax, there’s a finale, the
resolution, in which all the characters adapt to the “Big Decision” in one way or another.
The climax of a story comes near the story’s end. It’s a “Super Event” in which the
character or characters must finally make a decision, perform an action or reach an
understanding that grows out of these complications: one way or another, the conflict is
solved. You might show this visually via a “math problem”.

SOLVE THE CONFLICT

Event 1 + event 2 + event 3 + event 4 = PLOT
Event 4 = Super Event + Big Decision = CLIMAX
CLIMAX = CONFLICT SOLVED

.....................................................................................................................................
PLOT STRUCTURE: Climax and Resolution in short
stories

The bulk of most plots is made up of complications: the assorted actions that the
character takes to try to solve the conflict. In good stories, the complications are logically
related to each other and to the conflict.
The final settlement of the conflict comes in the climax, usually an event in which
the characters have to make a “Big Decision”. After the climax, there’s a finale, the
resolution, in which all the characters adapt to the “Big Decision” in one way or another.
The climax of a story comes near the story’s end. It’s a “Super Event” in which the
character or characters must finally make a decision, perform an action or reach an
understanding that grows out of these complications: one way or another, the conflict is
solved. You might show this visually via a “math problem”.

SOLVE THE CONFLICT

Event 1 + event 2 + event 3 + event 4 = PLOT
Event 4 = Super Event + Big Decision = CLIMAX
CLIMAX = CONFLICT SOLVED