The falling action of a story is the section of the plot following the climax, in which the tension stemming from the story’s central conflict decreases and the story moves toward its conclusion.
In narrative structure, the progression from the rising action to the climax and ultimately to the resolution forms a critical journey in storytelling. While the climax serves as the story’s emotional and thematic peak, it is the falling action that ensures the narrative doesn’t end abruptly, but instead transitions smoothly toward its conclusion.
Falling action is the phase where the consequences of the climax unfold, conflicts begin to resolve, and characters process the aftermath of intense events. In Freytag’s Pyramid, falling action occupies the critical space between the climax and resolution, ensuring a smooth progression to the narrative’s end.
By allowing characters to process the events of the climax, falling action helps bring cohesion and closure to the narrative. It releases the tension built during the rising action, answering lingering questions and wrapping up subplots.
The falling action phase often accounts for 20-30% of a story, balancing brevity with the need for resolution. In mystery novels, for instance, the detective’s revelations about how the crime was committed often occur during the falling action, providing clarity before the denouement.
The Structural Role of Falling Action
Falling action serves as the connective tissue that links the climax to the resolution, ensuring a seamless narrative flow. Without this phase, a story risks abrupt transitions that can confuse or disengage the audience. It also helps resolve secondary conflicts or subplots that might otherwise undermine the narrative’s cohesion.
In multi-threaded narratives, falling action can interweave multiple storylines, creating a unified conclusion. This phase allows authors to balance various narrative arcs while providing audiences with a sense of completeness. Whether the tone is reflective, celebratory, or somber, the falling action plays a crucial role in preparing the audience for the story’s closure.
Role in Plot and Character Development
Falling action is essential for character arcs and plot resolution. It reveals the consequences of pivotal choices and actions, shedding light on how the characters have evolved. This phase often includes moments of introspection or reconciliation, which deepen relationships while adding depth and complexity to the narrative.
This stage also ties loose plot threads, ensuring the story concludes in a cohesive and satisfying manner. The balance and clarity provided by falling action are integral to the pacing of the narrative. By easing the transition from intense climactic events to resolution, it maintains the flow of the story, avoiding abrupt shifts that could disorient the audience.
Examples from Classic and Modern Literature
- The Lord of the Rings: Frodo’s return to the Shire after destroying the One Ring exemplifies how falling action restores equilibrium. This period of relative calm allows the characters and the reader to process the intense events of the climax, providing a sense of closure before the story ends.
- To Kill a Mockingbird: The falling action following Tom Robinson’s trial allows Scout to grapple with the complexities of justice and racism. Witnessing the trial and its aftermath forces her to confront the prejudice in her community, leading to significant moral growth. This period of reflection is crucial for her development and for the novel’s exploration of societal issues.
- A Christmas Carol: Scrooge’s transformation after being visited by the ghosts showcases the power of redemption. The falling action focuses on his changed behavior and newfound generosity, solidifying the story’s moral message and providing a satisfying resolution to his character arc.
- Romeo and Juliet: The reconciliation of the Montagues and Capulets after their children’s tragic deaths serves as a poignant resolution. This falling action highlights the devastating consequences of their feud, underscoring the play’s themes of love, hate, and fate.
- The Hunger Games: Katniss Everdeen’s return to District 12 after the Games allows the novel to explore the psychological impact of trauma and survival. This falling action delves into the complexities of her experiences and the broader societal structures that perpetuate violence, offering a nuanced reflection on the human condition.
Key Role of Falling Action
In each of these examples, the falling action plays a vital role in:
- Easing tension: After the climax, the falling action provides a space for the narrative and emotional intensity to decrease.
- Resolving conflicts: Loose ends are tied up, and conflicts are addressed, leading to a sense of closure.
- Developing characters: Characters often undergo further growth or change during the falling action, reflecting on their experiences and coming to new understandings.
- Reinforcing themes: The falling action can emphasize the story’s central themes and provide a final opportunity for the author to deliver their message.
- Providing resolution: Ultimately, the falling action prepares the story for its conclusion, ensuring a satisfying and meaningful ending.
Further Reading
What is Story Structure? 8 Types You Should Know by Grammarly
Falling Action: Definition and Why Falling Action Doesn’t Exist In Most Stories by Joe Bunting, The Write Practice
What is the FALLING ACTION of a story? by Sped Sheets, YouTube
How to write the climax/falling action? on Reddit
