What is Falling Action of a Story?

Imagine you are watching a very interesting movie, and while watching, you realize that you’re not familiar with how the plot of a film forms and instills various feelings in us throughout the watch. Don’t worry, as in this blog; we have got the answer- What is the Falling action of a story?

A story comprises so many elements, making it appealing to readers and viewers! Without a proper structure, there can’t be a story that makes sense to us, so it is important to know what elements make those stories. Different variations happen in the story from the start to the climax, and one is the Falling Action.

Come aboard with us, and we will share with you- What is the Falling Action of a story? Along with the placement, purpose, and examples! You can also get any doubts cleared in the FAQ’s #section at the end. Keep reading to find out more!

What Is The Falling Action Of A Story?

In simple terms, the sequence of the movie occurring after the climax is the Falling Action of a story. The aftermath of the climax is shown in the falling action of the story. The term itself is pretty self-explanatory! After the rise of the plot, after all the action, adrenaline, and speculation, we get closure of the story. The falling action has the resolutions a character faces, the revelations of the characters, and how the plot is dealt with after the climax.

A very simple example of a story’s falling action would be the coping of a character! After the climax, the scenes of a happy life and complete closure make the falling action of that story. Another example would be a superhero defeating their nemesis and returning home victorious.

All these examples point to the definition of falling action being the resolution of loose ends. If you were to watch a movie without falling action, it would just be like a meal without desserts- incomplete! Now that you know what is the falling action of a story? It’s important to know where it fits! Jump on to the next section to find out.

Where Does Falling Action Fit In The Plot?

The plot of a story has a hierarchy that goes like this-

• Introduction– This is where the story starts, and we are introduced to different characters and their personalities.
• Rising Action– This is where the story starts to pick up and interests us, leading up to the climax.
• Climax– Now, this is where the conflict comes to an end. The motives of the characters are revealed, and the suspense gets disclosed.
• Falling Action– The aftermath of the climax is shown here. We get a glimpse of the characters living their lives after all the action has come to a rest.
• Resolution– This can be a happy or tragic situation for the characters. The story concludes completely in the resolution, like an epilogue in a book or post-credits in a movie.

As evident, the falling action comes between the climax and the resolution. Some stories can choose to finish with the falling action too.

There is no falling action without the climax and no resolution without the falling action. The falling action also acts as a bridge between the climax and the resolution.

If this step of the story is missed, it will seem good, while the build-up is incomplete towards the end. After knowing what is the falling action of a story? And where it fits, let’s jump to the purpose of the falling action.

Purpose Of The Falling Action:

If you’re fully invested in a story, we’re sure you would also want to glimpse what’s happening with the characters post that story. That’s exactly where the falling action comes to the rescue. It might seem like a good idea not to prolong the story and end it with the climax, but at the same time, falling action enhances the audience engagement.

The falling action is just like that salad seasoning, without which the salad sure is edible but a little bland. There is no hard and fast rule to keep the falling action but if you want that extra glimpse into the story, falling action is just what you need to look for. The characters take the support of the falling action to settle into their lives post the climax.

A resolution just after the climax doesn’t give the same push to the story like a falling action does. Also, just a tip if you happen to be a writer- you also need to make sure that the falling action matches the pace of the climax.

The very purpose of the falling action is also to balance the audience’s emotions. A continuous adrenaline rush mellows down with the falling action and resolution. In short, making the story complete and leaving the audience satisfied!

Examples Of Falling Action In Movies:

Now comes the exciting part; here we are going to take two of the most expected movies and tell you the story’s falling action. If you read the title and have not watched the movie yet, we warn you of the spoilers!

1. Cinderella:

Ask yourself this question- In Cinderella, which was the part you felt the tension of the story till? If we had to guess the answer, it would be the part where Prince Charming makes Cinderella try the glass slipper.

After that, you ask? The falling action begins with the slipper fitting Cinderella and the forgiveness of her stepmother. The resolution is that the couple gets married and lives happily ever after.

2. Titanic:

We don’t love the tragedy ourselves, but the unfortunate part where Jack passes and Rose blows the whistle is the beginning of the falling action of the movie.

*Sheds Tears* The resolution happens with Rose letting the necklace find its place in the ocean where Jack rests, leaving us with a sweet pain in this masterpiece. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Conclusion:

We hope that this article helped you to understand- what is the Falling action of a story. The next time you watch a movie or read a story, you’d be well-versed in the elements of the story! You can even share the knowledge with your friends and family and help them understand how the plot of a story works. Happy viewing!