Climax
Climax is the turning point in the story in which things change for the character(s).
The climax is also referred to as the highpoint or the most exciting point in the story, but keep in mind that does not necessarily mean that it has to overly dramatic. Typically, if there is a great deal of rising action, this is usually a buildup to something major; this is the most obvious form of a climax.
The climax to a story can also be more subtle, especially if there is less rising action. But again, the intensity of the climax is going to depend on the goal of the writer. The climax can be anything from a confrontation between characters to a difficult decision quietly being made.
Referring back to the mountain climbing analogy: the mountain climber has reached his goal to make it to the top; he has overcome his obstacle (the mountain); he has accomplished a difficult feat. The reader has finally arrived at the point in the story that he has been waiting for – to finally know the answer to the question(s) that has kept him reading to this point – "What will the character do?" or “How will the conflict be resolved?”
Referring back to the mountain climbing analogy: the mountain climber has reached his goal to make it to the top; he has overcome his obstacle (the mountain); he has accomplished a difficult feat. The reader has finally arrived at the point in the story that he has been waiting for – to finally know the answer to the question(s) that has kept him reading to this point – "What will the character do?" or “How will the conflict be resolved?”
Click the story title to review the climax in “Blessed Silence” before completing the section below.
Additional Resource:
- "Four Ways to Improve Plot/Climax in Your Writing" - This Writer's Digest article explains the mechanic of climax in fiction writing.