narrative arc
Story's dramatic shape
A narrative arc is the overall shape of a story's progression—the trajectory from setup through conflict to resolution.
The term treats plot as a curved path that rises toward climax and descends toward conclusion.
Stories may contain multiple arcs: Her character arc was more compelling than the main plot.
The concept applies beyond fiction to any sequence with dramatic structure: the narrative arc of his political career.
- climaxPoint of greatest intensity
- rising actionPlot buildup toward climax
- call to adventureNarrative catalyst for journey
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- throughlineCentral connecting narrative strand
inciting incident · conflict · plot · character arc · falling action · denouement · three-act structure · story beats · foreshadowing · protagonist · character development · turning point · pacing · catharsis · happily ever after · flashback · theme · plot twist
- storytellingstorytelling, story, tale, narrator, storyteller
- literary elementsplot, character, setting, theme, narrator
- plotplot, storyline, subplot, climax, plot twist
- plot elementsplot, protagonist, antagonist, main plot, subplot
- storytelling educationfables, folktales, parables, myths, legends
- TV seriesTV series, drama series, sitcom, soap opera, miniseries
narrative arcplotlessness
Lack of narrative structure
formlessness · stream of consciousness · anti-narrative · slice of life · incoherence
narrative arcexposition
Systematic explanatory presentation
stasis · mood piece · atmosphere · world-building · character sketch