This is a powerpoint prototype of a self paced lesson on them, plot, and charater.

1. Elements of Fiction:
The Plot Thickens
Created By: Jenny Spencer

2. How to navigate this instructional unit
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3. The Purpose of this Unit:
At the end of this unit on elements of fiction, you will be able to:
• Identify the exposition of a story.
• Identify the inciting incident of a story.
• Describe the rising action(s) of a story.
• Identify the climax of a story.
• Describe the falling action (s) of a story.
• Describe the resolution of a story.
Mastering the above goals help you with story comprehension, especially when moving into novel studies.
This unit is intended for middle school students studying elements of fiction.

4. What & how will you learn?
• You will move through six goals to achieve mastery in analyzing plot. What elements of plot will you master?
1. Exposition
2. Inciting Incident
3. Rising Action
4. Climax
5. Falling Action
6. Resolution
 For each goal, you will be given a definition and explanation of the skill.
 Then, you will be given examples of how to find the element of fiction inside of a short story.
 Finally, you will be given a practice problem to test your knowledge.
 A post test will be given at the end of the unit to test your mastery.

5. About the Instructional Unit
• This unit all together will take 20 minutes to complete.
• The unit is broken up as follows:
Part of Unit/Goal Estimated Time Frame
Previous Knowledge 1 minute
Goal 1 – Identify Exposition 2 minutes
Goal 2 – Identify Inciting Incident 1.5 minutes
Goal 3 – Describe Rising Action 2 minutes
Goal 4 – Identify the Climax 2 minutes
Goal 5- Describe the Falling Action 2 minutes
Goal 6 – Identify the Resolution 2 minutes
Post Test 7 Minutes

6. What are the elements of fiction a reader should recognize in
a short story?
Exposition – The setting and the main characters.
 The inciting incident – the event that sets the story into motion
 The rising action(s) – The main events in the story that lead to the climax.
 The climax – The most dramatic or emotional part of the story. This is the “turning point” in
the plot.
The falling action(s) – Main events that happen after the climax that tie up any loose ends.
The resolution – The way the story ends.
Prev.

7. What is a short story?
 A short story is a fully developed story that includes a theme,
exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, and
resolution.
 Short stories are “short” because they are significantly less in length
than a novel and is read in one sitting.
Prev.

8. Why is important to analyze the elements of fiction that a short story
contains?
Analyzing fictional elements ensures that readers comprehend
the story.
 Identifying elements of fiction is a skill that is required for
all language arts classes that students attend during their
school career.
Prev.

9. Elements of Fiction - Plot
Falling Action(s)
Resolution
Climax
Rising
Action(s)
Inciting Incident
Exposition
• Setting
• Main Characters
Prev.
Goal 1

10. Goal 1 – Identify the Exposition
Objective: Given a short story to analyze, the learner will be able to identify the setting and main characters that make up the
exposition.
Exposition
• Setting
• Main Characters
Prev.
Goal 1

11. Exposition is made of two
parts:
Setting Main
Characters
Prev.
Goal 1

12. Setting
• The setting of a story is when and where the story
takes place.
 Descriptive words in the text describe the setting.
 What time of year was it?
 What month was it?
 What season was it?
 What was the weather?
 What time did the story take place?
 Morning, Afternoon, or night?
 Specific time?
 Where did the story happen?
 Specific place?
Prev.
Goal 1

13. How to find the setting in a story?
Story One
“It was a snowy, January day. The
snow was so deep outside of the
house that the door wouldn’t
open.”
The setting of this story would be
described as:
A cold, January day outside of the
narrator’s house.
Story Two
“I walked barefoot across the blacktop
and the bottom of my feet burned like
stones on the hot July day.”
The setting of this story would be
described as:
A hot, July day on a blacktop.
Prev.
Goal 1

14. Main Characters
•The main character(s) are whom the story
is mainly about.
•Main characters are categorized in two
different ways.
Protagonist - this is the hero or the “good guy”
in the story.
•Antagonist – this is the villain or the “bad guy”
in the story
Prev.
Goal 1

15. How to find the main characters of a story?
• “Hi, I’m Jane. This is the story of my first day
of middle school. It all started when I saw her,
Regina. This is the girl that bullied me all of
my fifth grade year.”
• a. The main character in this story would be
Jane.
• b. Jane would be the protagonist because she
is the “good guy”.
• c. Regina would be the antagonist because she
was the “bully” or “bad guy”.
Prev.
Goal 1

16. Test Yourself!
“In January, a puppy
wandered onto the property
of Mr. Amos Lacey and his
wife, Mamie, and their
daughter, Doris. Icicles hung
three feet or more from the
eaves of houses, snowdrifts
swallowed up automobiles
and the birds were so fluffed
up they looked comic.”
What is the setting of this
story? Choose your answer
choice below.
o The setting is in January at
the Lacey home.
o The setting is in June at the
Lacey home.
Read the beginning to Cynthia Rylant’s short story “Stray” and identify the exposition. Prev.
Goal 1

17. Test Yourself!
“In January, a puppy
wandered onto the property
of Mr. Amos Lacey and his
wife, Mamie, and their
daughter, Doris. Icicles hung
three feet or more from the
eaves of houses, snowdrifts
swallowed up automobiles
and the birds were so fluffed
up they looked comic.”
What is the setting of
this story?
A. The setting is in January
at the Lacey home.
CORRECT! The story
mentions that the setting is a
January day at the Lacey
house.
Read the beginning to Cynthia Rylant’s short story “Stray” and identify the exposition. Prev.
Goal 1

18. Test Yourself!
“In January, a puppy
wandered onto the property
of Mr. Amos Lacey and his
wife, Mamie, and their
daughter, Doris. Icicles hung
three feet or more from the
eaves of houses, snowdrifts
swallowed up automobiles
and the birds were so fluffed
up they looked comic.”
What is the setting of
this story?
A. The setting is in June at
the Lacey home.
INCORRECT! In the story it
is snowing and mentions a
January day at the Lacey
house.
Read the beginning to Cynthia Rylant’s short story “Stray” and identify the exposition. Prev.
Goal 1

19. Test Yourself!
“In January, a puppy
wandered onto the property
of Mr. Amos Lacey and his
wife, Mamie, and their
daughter, Doris. Icicles hung
three feet or more from the
eaves of houses, snowdrifts
swallowed up automobiles
and the birds were so fluffed
up they looked comic.”
Who are the main characters
of the story? Choose your
answer choice below.
o The puppy
oDoris, Mr. Amos, and
Mamie.
Read the beginning to Cynthia Rylant’s short story “Stray” and identify the exposition. Prev.
Goal 1

20. Test Yourself!
“In January, a puppy
wandered onto the property
of Mr. Amos Lacey and his
wife, Mamie, and their
daughter, Doris. Icicles hung
three feet or more from the
eaves of houses, snowdrifts
swallowed up automobiles
and the birds were so fluffed
up they looked comic.”
Who are the main characters of
the story? Choose your answer
choice below.
The puppy
Incorrect! The main
characters are Doris,
Mr. Amos, and Mamie.
They are who the story
is about.
Read the beginning to Cynthia Rylant’s short story “Stray” and identify the exposition. Prev.
Goal 1

21. Test Yourself!
“In January, a puppy
wandered onto the property
of Mr. Amos Lacey and his
wife, Mamie, and their
daughter, Doris. Icicles hung
three feet or more from the
eaves of houses, snowdrifts
swallowed up automobiles
and the birds were so fluffed
up they looked comic.”
Who are the main characters of
the story? Choose your answer
choice below.
Doris, Mr. Amos, and
Mamie.
Correct! These are
main characters of the
story.
Read the beginning to Cynthia Rylant’s short story “Stray” and identify the exposition. Prev.
Goal 1

22. Goal 2 – Identify the Inciting Incident
Objective: Given a short story to analyze, the learner will be able to identify the inciting incident of the story.
Inciting Incident
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2

23. What is the inciting incident?
•The inciting incident of a story is
the event that happens that sets
the story in motion.
This hooks the reader.
This is the event that the story revolves
around.
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2

24. Let’s take a look at an example:
Aesop’s Fable – The Fox and the Goat
• “One fine, hot day, Fox fell into
an old abandoned well. The
water was chin-high and muddy,
and the well's walls were green
with moss, much too slippery to
climb. Fox being Fox, he did not
bother to worry about his fate or
blame himself for being clumsy.
Instead he began immediately to
scheme about how to get out of
this predicament.”
What in inciting incident in the
short story, “The Fox and the Goat”
an Aesop’s fable?
-The inciting incident is when the
fox fell into the abandoned well.
Why is this the inciting incident?
-This is the main event that
happened and caused all of the other
events to happen in the story.
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2

25. Test Yourself!
“In January, a puppy wandered onto the
property of Mr. Amos Lacey and his wife,
Mamie, and their daughter, Doris. Icicles
hung three feet or more from the eaves of
houses, snowdrifts swallowed up
automobiles and the birds were so fluffed up
they looked comic. The puppy had been
abandoned, and it made its way down the
road toward the Laceys’ small house, its
ears tucked, its tail between its legs,
shivering. Doris, whose school had been
called off because of the snow, was out
shoveling the cinderblock front steps when
she spotted the pup on the road. She set
down the shovel. “Hey! Come on!” she
called. The puppy stopped in the road,
wagging its tail timidly, trembling with
shyness and cold.”
What is the inciting incident
in the story? Choose your
answer below.
oDoris was shoveling snow on
a cold January day.
oA stray puppy walked up to
Doris as she was shoveling
show.
Read the following excerpt from Cynthia Rylant’s “Stray” and identify the Inciting incident. Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2

26. Test Yourself!
“In January, a puppy wandered onto the property of
Mr. Amos Lacey and his wife, Mamie, and their
daughter, Doris. Icicles hung three feet or more from
the eaves of houses, snowdrifts swallowed up
automobiles and the birds were so fluffed up they
looked comic. The puppy had been abandoned, and it
made its way down the road toward the Laceys’ small
house, its ears tucked, its tail between its legs,
shivering. Doris, whose school had been called off
because of the snow, was out shoveling the cinderblock
front steps when she spotted the pup on the road. She
set down the shovel. “Hey! Come on!” she called. The
puppy stopped in the road, wagging its tail timidly,
trembling with shyness and cold.”
What is the inciting incident in the
story? Choose your answer below.
o Doris was shoveling snow on a cold
January day.
Incorrect! This is NOT the event that
set the rest of the story into motion.
When a puppy walks up to Doris, that
is the inciting incident. All other
events in the story happen because
the puppy walks up to Doris.
Read the following excerpt from Cynthia Rylant’s “Stray” and identify the Inciting incident. Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2

27. Test Yourself!
“In January, a puppy wandered onto the
property of Mr. Amos Lacey and his wife,
Mamie, and their daughter, Doris. Icicles
hung three feet or more from the eaves of
houses, snowdrifts swallowed up automobiles
and the birds were so fluffed up they looked
comic. The puppy had been abandoned, and it
made its way down the road toward the
Laceys’ small house, its ears tucked, its tail
between its legs, shivering. Doris, whose
school had been called off because of the snow,
was out shoveling the cinderblock front steps
when she spotted the pup on the road. She set
down the shovel. “Hey! Come on!” she called.
The puppy stopped in the road, wagging its
tail timidly, trembling with shyness and cold.”
What is the inciting incident in
the story? Choose your answer
below.
A stray puppy walked up to
Doris as she was shoveling
show.
Correct! This is the inciting
incident because it is the event
that set the rest of the story
into motion.
Read the following excerpt from Cynthia Rylant’s “Stray” and identify the Inciting incident. Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2

28. Goal 3 – Identify the Rising Action(s)
Objective: Given a short story to analyze, the learner will be able to identify the events of the rising action that
lead to the climax of the story.
Rising
Action(s)
Inciting Incident
Exposition
• Setting
• Main Characters
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3

29. Rising Action
• The rising action of a story includes all of the main events
that lead up to the turning point or the “climax”.
 Main events that make it difficult for the main character to reach their
goal.
 Main events that build suspense leading up to the climax of the story.
• When reading a short story these are questions to ask to
help identify the rising action(s).
 What are the main goals?
 What makes it difficult for the character to reach their goal?
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3

30. Let’s take a look at an example:
Excerpt from Jack & The Bean Stalk
• “Jack took the beans and went back home. When
Jack’s mother saw the beans, she was very angry.
She threw the beans out of the window. The next
morning, Jack looked out of the window. There
was a giant beanstalk. He went outside and
started to climb the beanstalk. He climbed up to
the sky through the clouds. He saw a beautiful
castle. He went inside. Jack heard a voice “Fee,
fi, fo, fum!” Jack ran into the cupboard. An
enormous giant came into the room and sat
down. On the table, there was a hen and a
golden harp. The giant ordered the hen to play
the harp and soon he was asleep. Jack jumped
out of the cupboard. He took the hen and the
harp. Suddenly, the hen yelled “help master” and
the giant woke up. “ (“Jack and the Beanstalk,”
n.d.)
How can we identify the rising action?
1. The main character is Jack.
2. The setting is inside the giant’s castle.
3. The inciting incident took place when
Jack decided to climb the beanstalk.
a. This is what put the story into motion.
What events led up to the most exciting moment,
which was when the giant woke up? (This would be
the rising action.)
a. Jack climbed the beanstalk.
b. Jack entered the Giant’s castle.
c. Jack hid in the cupboard and watched the Giant
fall asleep.
d. Jack snuck out of the cupboard and stole the
Giant’s hen and Harp.
e. The hen began to yell, “Help!” and woke the
Giant.
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3

31. Test Yourself!
“Doris trudged through the yard, went up the
shoveled drive and met the dog. “Come on, Pooch.”
“Where did that come from?” Mrs. Lacey asked as
soon as Doris put the dog down in the kitchen. Mr.
Lacey was at the table, cleaning his fingernails with
his pocketknife. The snow was keeping him home
from his job at the warehouse. “I don’t know where
it came from,” he said mildly, “but I know for sure
where it’s going.” Doris hugged the puppy hard
against her. She said nothing. Because the roads
would be too bad for travel for many days, Mr. Lacey
could not get out to take the puppy to the pound in
the city right away. He agreed to let it sleep in the
basement while Mrs. Lacey grudgingly let Doris feed
it table scraps. The woman was sensitive about
throwing out food. By the looks of it, Doris figured
the puppy was about six months old, and on its way
to being a big dog. She thought it might have some
shepherd in it. Doris talked about the puppy at
dinner with her parents. Her parents would simply
smile and continue to eat their food. Doris knew her
parents wouldn’t let her keep the dog but that didn’t
stop her from trying. “
Read an excerpt from Cynthia Rylant’s short story “Stray” and identify the rising actions.
What events happened after the stray puppy
walked up to Doris? (Choose the answer that
includes the rising action events.)
o Doris took the dog inside, Doris’ parents let
her keep the dog in the basement until
weather cleared, and Doris tried to talk her
parents into keeping the dog.
o Doris shoveled snow, Doris went inside and
put the dog in the basement, and Doris ate
dinner with her parents.
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3

32. Test Yourself!
“Doris trudged through the yard, went up the
shoveled drive and met the dog. “Come on, Pooch.”
“Where did that come from?” Mrs. Lacey asked as
soon as Doris put the dog down in the kitchen. Mr.
Lacey was at the table, cleaning his fingernails with
his pocketknife. The snow was keeping him home
from his job at the warehouse. “I don’t know where
it came from,” he said mildly, “but I know for sure
where it’s going.” Doris hugged the puppy hard
against her. She said nothing. Because the roads
would be too bad for travel for many days, Mr. Lacey
could not get out to take the puppy to the pound in
the city right away. He agreed to let it sleep in the
basement while Mrs. Lacey grudgingly let Doris feed
it table scraps. The woman was sensitive about
throwing out food. By the looks of it, Doris figured
the puppy was about six months old, and on its way
to being a big dog. She thought it might have some
shepherd in it. Doris talked about the puppy at
dinner with her parents. Her parents would simply
smile and continue to eat their food. Doris knew her
parents wouldn’t let her keep the dog but that didn’t
stop her from trying. “
Read an excerpt from Cynthia Rylant’s short story “Stray” and identify the rising actions.
What events happened after the stray puppy
walked up to Doris? (Choose the answer that
includes the rising action events.)
Doris took the dog inside, Doris’
parents let her keep the dog in the
basement until weather cleared, and
Doris tried to talk her parents into
keeping the dog.
Correct! These are the events that lead
up to the turning point (climax) of the
story.
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3

33. Test Yourself!
“Doris trudged through the yard, went up the
shoveled drive and met the dog. “Come on, Pooch.”
“Where did that come from?” Mrs. Lacey asked as
soon as Doris put the dog down in the kitchen. Mr.
Lacey was at the table, cleaning his fingernails with
his pocketknife. The snow was keeping him home
from his job at the warehouse. “I don’t know where
it came from,” he said mildly, “but I know for sure
where it’s going.” Doris hugged the puppy hard
against her. She said nothing. Because the roads
would be too bad for travel for many days, Mr. Lacey
could not get out to take the puppy to the pound in
the city right away. He agreed to let it sleep in the
basement while Mrs. Lacey grudgingly let Doris feed
it table scraps. The woman was sensitive about
throwing out food. By the looks of it, Doris figured
the puppy was about six months old, and on its way
to being a big dog. She thought it might have some
shepherd in it. Doris talked about the puppy at
dinner with her parents. Her parents would simply
smile and continue to eat their food. Doris knew her
parents wouldn’t let her keep the dog but that didn’t
stop her from trying. “
Read an excerpt from Cynthia Rylant’s short story “Stray” and identify the rising actions.
What events happened after the stray puppy
walked up to Doris? (Choose the answer that
includes the rising action events.)
Doris shoveled snow, Doris went inside and
put the dog in the basement, and Doris ate
dinner with her parents.
Incorrect!
The rising action would be: Doris took the dog inside,
Doris’ parents let her keep the dog in the basement
until weather cleared, and Doris tried to talk her
parents into keeping the dog. These events lead up to
the turning point of the story.
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3

34. Goal 4 – Identify the Climax
Objective: Given a short story to analyze, the learner will be able to identify the turning point (climax) of the
story.
Rising
Action(s)
Inciting Incident
Exposition
• Setting
• Main Characters
Climax Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4

35. Climax (turning point)
The Climax of a story is the “turning point” of a story.
 This is the most exciting even that happens in the story.
 The reader will feel the most excitement or emotion during
this part of the story.
Key questions to ask while identifying the climax of a
story:
• What is the most exciting moment of this story?
• What is the most intense moment of this story?
• What is the moment where everything in the story changed?
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4

36. Let’s take a look at an example:
Excerpt from Jack & The Bean Stalk
.Jack heard a voice “Fee, fi, fo, fum!” Jack ran
into the cupboard. An enormous giant came into
the room and sat down. On the table, there was
a hen and a golden harp. The giant ordered the
hen to play the harp and soon he was asleep.
Jack jumped out of the cupboard. He took the
hen and the harp. Suddenly, the hen yelled
“help master” and the giant woke up. Jack ran
and started climbing down the beanstalk. The
giant chased after him. Jack shouted, “Mother!
Help!” Jack’s mother took an axe and chopped
down the beanstalk. The giant fell and crashed
to the ground. Nobody ever saw him again. With
the golden eggs and the magic harp, Jack and
his mother lived happily ever after.
What is the climax, or the turning point of this
story?
The climax is when Jack stole the golden hen and
the harp. The giant began to chase him and he was
running for his life.
How do we know this is the climax?
• This is the most exciting part of the story.
• This is the most intense moment in the story.
• This is the part in the story when everything
started to change.
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4

37. Test Yourself!
But on Saturday, nine days after the dog
had arrived, the sun was shining and the
roads were plowed. Mr. Lacey opened up the
trunk of his car and came into the house.
Doris was sitting alone in the living room,
hugging a pillow and rocking back and forth
on the edge of a chair. She was trying not to
cry but she was not strong enough. Her face
was wet and red, her eyes full of distress.
Mrs. Lacey looked into the room from the
doorway. “Mama,” Doris said in a small
voice. “Please.” Mrs. Lacey shook her head,
“You know we can’t afford a dog, Doris. You
try to act more grown-up about this.” Doris
pressed her face into the pillow. Outside,
she heard the trunk of the car slam shut,
one of the doors open and close. The old
engine cough and choke and finally start
up.
Read the following excerpt from Cynthia Rylant’s “Stray” and identify the climax.
What is the climax of the story?
(Choose the correct answer)
oDoris’ dad takes the puppy to the
pound.
oDoris cries herself to sleep
dreaming of searching for things
lost.
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4

38. Test Yourself!
But on Saturday, nine days after the dog
had arrived, the sun was shining and the
roads were plowed. Mr. Lacey opened up the
trunk of his car and came into the house.
Doris was sitting alone in the living room,
hugging a pillow and rocking back and forth
on the edge of a chair. She was trying not to
cry but she was not strong enough. Her face
was wet and red, her eyes full of distress.
Mrs. Lacey looked into the room from the
doorway. “Mama,” Doris said in a small
voice. “Please.” Mrs. Lacey shook her head,
“You know we can’t afford a dog, Doris. You
try to act more grown-up about this.” Doris
pressed her face into the pillow. Outside,
she heard the trunk of the car slam shut,
one of the doors open and close. The old
engine cough and choke and finally start
up.
Read the following excerpt from Cynthia Rylant’s “Stray” and identify the climax.
What is the climax of the story?
(Choose the correct answer)
Doris’ dad takes the puppy to the
pound.
CORRECT! This is the turning
point of the story. This is the part of
the story with the most emotion.
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4

39. Test Yourself!
But on Saturday, nine days after the dog
had arrived, the sun was shining and the
roads were plowed. Mr. Lacey opened up the
trunk of his car and came into the house.
Doris was sitting alone in the living room,
hugging a pillow and rocking back and forth
on the edge of a chair. She was trying not to
cry but she was not strong enough. Her face
was wet and red, her eyes full of distress.
Mrs. Lacey looked into the room from the
doorway. “Mama,” Doris said in a small
voice. “Please.” Mrs. Lacey shook her head,
“You know we can’t afford a dog, Doris. You
try to act more grown-up about this.” Doris
pressed her face into the pillow. Outside,
she heard the trunk of the car slam shut,
one of the doors open and close. The old
engine cough and choke and finally start
up.
Read the following excerpt from Cynthia Rylant’s “Stray” and identify the climax.
What is the climax of the story?
(Choose the correct answer)
Doris cries herself to sleep
dreaming of searching for things
lost.
INCORRECT – The climax of this
story is when Doris’ dad takes the
puppy to the pound. This is the part
of the story with the most emotion.
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4

40. Goal 5 – Identify the Falling Action(s)
Objective: Given a short story to analyze, the learner will be able to identify the events of the falling action that lead to the resolution
of the story.
Rising
Action(s)
Inciting Incident
Exposition
• Setting
• Main Characters
Climax
Falling
Action(s)
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4
Goal 5

41. Falling Action
The Falling action of a short story describes the
events in the story that happen after the climax
that lead to the resolution.
Questions to ask when identifying the falling
action
• What happens after the climax that leads to the
resolution?
• What events tie up any loose ends in the story?
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4
Goal 5

42. Let’s take a look at an example:
Excerpt from Jack & The Bean Stalk
.Jack heard a voice “Fee, fi, fo, fum!” Jack ran
into the cupboard. An enormous giant came into
the room and sat down. On the table, there was
a hen and a golden harp. The giant ordered the
hen to play the harp and soon he was asleep.
Jack jumped out of the cupboard. He took the
hen and the harp. Suddenly, the hen yelled
“help master” and the giant woke up. Jack ran
and started climbing down the beanstalk. The
giant chased after him. Jack shouted, “Mother!
Help!” Jack’s mother took an axe and chopped
down the beanstalk. The giant fell and crashed
to the ground. Nobody ever saw him again. With
the golden eggs and the magic harp, Jack and
his mother lived happily ever after.
What are the falling actions?
Remember! Questions to consider:
• What events happen after the climax that lead
to the resolution?
• What events tie up loose ends?
The falling action would include:
• Jack ran from the giant down the beanstalk.
• The giant followed Jack.
• Jack yelled for his mom to help.
• Jack’s mom took an axe and cut the beanstalk.
• The giant fell and was never heard from again.
These events happen after the climax and lead to
the resolution, or ending, of the story.
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4
Goal 5

43. Test Yourself!
Her parents were sitting at the table, dinner over,
drinking coffee. They looked at her when she came
in, but she kept her head down. No one spoke.
Doris made herself a glass of powdered milk and
drank it all down. Then she picked up a cold biscuit
and started out of the room. “You’d better feed that
mutt before it dies of starvation,” Mr. Lacey said.
Doris turned around. “What?” “I said, you’d better
feed your dog. I figure it’s looking for you.” Doris
put her hand to her mouth. “You didn’t take her?”
she asked. “Oh, I took her all right.” her father
answered. “Worst looking place I’ve ever seen. Ten
dogs to a cage. Smell was enough to knock you
down. And they give an animal six days to live.
Then they kill it with some kind of a shot.” Doris
stared at her father. “l wouldn’t leave an ant in that
place,” he said. “So I brought the dog back.” Mrs.
Lacey was smiling at him and shaking her head as
if she would never, ever, understand him. Mr. Lacey
sipped his coffee. “Well,” he said, “are you going to
feed it or not?””
Read the following excerpt from Cynthia Rylant’s “Stray” and identify the falling action(s).
What events tie up loose ends and
lead to the resolution?
o Doris’ wakes up, hesitates to go
into the kitchen, walks past her
parents and her dad explains that
he did not take the dog and she
needs to feed it.
o Doris’ wakes up, walks into the
kitchen, eats a biscuit, and
continues to be sad.
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4
Goal 5

44. Test Yourself!
Her parents were sitting at the table, dinner over,
drinking coffee. They looked at her when she came
in, but she kept her head down. No one spoke.
Doris made herself a glass of powdered milk and
drank it all down. Then she picked up a cold biscuit
and started out of the room. “You’d better feed that
mutt before it dies of starvation,” Mr. Lacey said.
Doris turned around. “What?” “I said, you’d better
feed your dog. I figure it’s looking for you.” Doris
put her hand to her mouth. “You didn’t take her?”
she asked. “Oh, I took her all right.” her father
answered. “Worst looking place I’ve ever seen. Ten
dogs to a cage. Smell was enough to knock you
down. And they give an animal six days to live.
Then they kill it with some kind of a shot.” Doris
stared at her father. “l wouldn’t leave an ant in that
place,” he said. “So I brought the dog back.” Mrs.
Lacey was smiling at him and shaking her head as
if she would never, ever, understand him. Mr. Lacey
sipped his coffee. “Well,” he said, “are you going to
feed it or not?””
Read the following excerpt from Cynthia Rylant’s “Stray” and identify the falling action(s).
What events tie up loose ends and
lead to the resolution?
o Doris’ wakes up, hesitates to go
into the kitchen, walks past her
parents and her dad explains that
he did not take the dog and she
needs to feed it.
CORRECT! These events are the
“falling actions” because they tie up
loose ends in the story that lead to the
resolutions.
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4
Goal 5

45. Test Yourself!
Her parents were sitting at the table, dinner over,
drinking coffee. They looked at her when she came
in, but she kept her head down. No one spoke.
Doris made herself a glass of powdered milk and
drank it all down. Then she picked up a cold biscuit
and started out of the room. “You’d better feed that
mutt before it dies of starvation,” Mr. Lacey said.
Doris turned around. “What?” “I said, you’d better
feed your dog. I figure it’s looking for you.” Doris
put her hand to her mouth. “You didn’t take her?”
she asked. “Oh, I took her all right.” her father
answered. “Worst looking place I’ve ever seen. Ten
dogs to a cage. Smell was enough to knock you
down. And they give an animal six days to live.
Then they kill it with some kind of a shot.” Doris
stared at her father. “l wouldn’t leave an ant in that
place,” he said. “So I brought the dog back.” Mrs.
Lacey was smiling at him and shaking her head as
if she would never, ever, understand him. Mr. Lacey
sipped his coffee. “Well,” he said, “are you going to
feed it or not?””
Read the following excerpt from Cynthia Rylant’s “Stray” and identify the falling action(s).
What events tie up loose ends and
lead to the resolution?
Doris’ wakes up, walks into the
kitchen, eats a biscuit, and
continues to be sad.
INCORRECT – while these events
do happen in the story, they DO
NOT tie up loose ends and lead to
the resolution.
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4
Goal 5

46. Goal 6 – Identify the Resolution
Objective: Given a short story to analyze, the learner will be able to identify the resolution of the story.
Rising
Action(s)
Inciting Incident
Exposition
• Setting
• Main Characters
Climax
Falling
Action(s)
Resolution
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4
Goal 5
Goal 6

47. Resolution
The resolution of a short story is simply how the story ends.
Questions to ask while describing the resolution:
• How does the story end?
• What do the characters gain?
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4
Goal 5
Goal 6

48. Let’s take a look at an example:
Excerpt from Jack & The Bean Stalk
.Jack heard a voice “Fee, fi, fo, fum!” Jack ran
into the cupboard. An enormous giant came into
the room and sat down. On the table, there was
a hen and a golden harp. The giant ordered the
hen to play the harp and soon he was asleep.
Jack jumped out of the cupboard. He took the
hen and the harp. Suddenly, the hen yelled
“help master” and the giant woke up. Jack ran
and started climbing down the beanstalk. The
giant chased after him. Jack shouted, “Mother!
Help!” Jack’s mother took an axe and chopped
down the beanstalk. The giant fell and crashed
to the ground. Nobody ever saw him again. With
the golden eggs and the magic harp, Jack and
his mother lived happily ever after.
Remember, the resolution is how the story
ends.
How does the story end?
-Jack and his mother live happily ever after
because they have the golden eggs!
How do we know this is the resolution?
- This is what happens at the end of the story
that ties up all loose ends.
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4
Goal 5
Goal 6

49. Test Yourself!
Her parents were sitting at the table, dinner over,
drinking coffee. They looked at her when she came
in, but she kept her head down. No one spoke.
Doris made herself a glass of powdered milk and
drank it all down. Then she picked up a cold biscuit
and started out of the room. “You’d better feed that
mutt before it dies of starvation,” Mr. Lacey said.
Doris turned around. “What?” “I said, you’d better
feed your dog. I figure it’s looking for you.” Doris
put her hand to her mouth. “You didn’t take her?”
she asked. “Oh, I took her all right.” her father
answered. “Worst looking place I’ve ever seen. Ten
dogs to a cage. Smell was enough to knock you
down. And they give an animal six days to live.
Then they kill it with some kind of a shot.” Doris
stared at her father. “l wouldn’t leave an ant in that
place,” he said. “So I brought the dog back.” Mrs.
Lacey was smiling at him and shaking her head as
if she would never, ever, understand him. Mr. Lacey
sipped his coffee. “Well,” he said, “are you going to
feed it or not?””
Read the following excerpt from Cynthia Rylant’s “Stray” and identify the resolution.
What is the resolution?
(Choose the correct answer)
oDoris’ dad tells her she gets to
keep the dog.
oDoris wakes up from her nap
and goes to the kitchen to eat.
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4
Goal 5
Goal 6

50. Test Yourself!
Her parents were sitting at the table, dinner over,
drinking coffee. They looked at her when she came
in, but she kept her head down. No one spoke.
Doris made herself a glass of powdered milk and
drank it all down. Then she picked up a cold biscuit
and started out of the room. “You’d better feed that
mutt before it dies of starvation,” Mr. Lacey said.
Doris turned around. “What?” “I said, you’d better
feed your dog. I figure it’s looking for you.” Doris
put her hand to her mouth. “You didn’t take her?”
she asked. “Oh, I took her all right.” her father
answered. “Worst looking place I’ve ever seen. Ten
dogs to a cage. Smell was enough to knock you
down. And they give an animal six days to live.
Then they kill it with some kind of a shot.” Doris
stared at her father. “l wouldn’t leave an ant in that
place,” he said. “So I brought the dog back.” Mrs.
Lacey was smiling at him and shaking her head as
if she would never, ever, understand him. Mr. Lacey
sipped his coffee. “Well,” he said, “are you going to
feed it or not?””
Read the following excerpt from Cynthia Rylant’s “Stray” and identify the falling action(s).
What is the resolution?
(Choose the correct answer)
oDoris’ dad tells her she gets to
keep the dog.
CORRECT! This is the resolution
because this is how the story ends.
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4
Goal 5
Goal 6

51. Test Yourself!
Her parents were sitting at the table, dinner over,
drinking coffee. They looked at her when she came
in, but she kept her head down. No one spoke.
Doris made herself a glass of powdered milk and
drank it all down. Then she picked up a cold biscuit
and started out of the room. “You’d better feed that
mutt before it dies of starvation,” Mr. Lacey said.
Doris turned around. “What?” “I said, you’d better
feed your dog. I figure it’s looking for you.” Doris
put her hand to her mouth. “You didn’t take her?”
she asked. “Oh, I took her all right.” her father
answered. “Worst looking place I’ve ever seen. Ten
dogs to a cage. Smell was enough to knock you
down. And they give an animal six days to live.
Then they kill it with some kind of a shot.” Doris
stared at her father. “l wouldn’t leave an ant in that
place,” he said. “So I brought the dog back.” Mrs.
Lacey was smiling at him and shaking her head as
if she would never, ever, understand him. Mr. Lacey
sipped his coffee. “Well,” he said, “are you going to
feed it or not?””
Read the following excerpt from Cynthia Rylant’s “Stray” and identify the falling action(s).
What is the resolution? (Choose
the correct answer)
Doris wakes up from her nap and
goes to the kitchen to eat.
INCORRECT – This is not the
resolution to the story because the
story does not end here. The
resolution is that Doris gets to keep
the puppy. That is how the story
ends.
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4
Goal 5
Goal 6

52. Great Job! You have completed the instructional unit!
Assessment time! Click the following link for a short assessment to showcase how much you learned. Good
luck!
https://forms.gle/9CBXuXRJKvQpKLrz5
Rising
Action(s)
Inciting Incident
Exposition
• Setting
• Main Characters
Climax
Falling
Action(s)
Resolution
Prev.
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4
Goal 5
Goal 6
Assess