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The Five-Stage Story Structure

Disciplines > Storytelling > Plots > The Five-stage Story Structure

Many stories of all types have a structure that follows five basic stages of action. This basic sequence which appear as the overall shape of the story or in sub-sequences, such as chapters and scenes.

Exposition: Setting the scene.
Rising action: Building the tension.
Climax: The exciting bit.
Falling action: Tidying up loose ends.
Resolution: Ending the story.

The Five-Stage Story Structure

See also