Climax

Question 1

What is the Story Climax?

Answer 1

The climax of a UNIT OF STORY is when the protagonist decides and acts on the binary question raised by the CRISIS. The climax also fulfills the promise of the INCITING INCIDENT. We see the true character of the AVATARS only in the choices they make under pressure.

Question 2

Rules for the Story Climax

Answer 2

1. Must be on the Page
2. Must be a Choice by the Protagonist

Question 3

Rule 1. Must be on the Page

Answer 3

The reader must see the climax for the protagonist happen on the page. If we move the climax off-page, it robs the reader of the cathartic release of seeing the protagonist’s decision to change or stay the same.

Question 4

Rule 2. Must be a Choice by the Protagonist

Answer 4

The dreaded deus ex machina is a reference to early Greek theater when playwrights would resolve impossible situations by having a god show up to magically fix the problem in the protagonist’s favor. While this is rarely done anymore, the same effect results from having another AVATAR intervene to resolve the situation without the protagonist making the choice herself.

Question 5

Types of Climaxes

Answer 5

1. Heroic
2. Antiheroic

Question 6

Type 1. Heroic

Answer 6

The heroic climax is where the protagonist decides to break their cognitive frame and change in a positive direction. For example, in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Elizabeth abandon’s her prejudice and risks humiliation by proclaiming her love for Mr. Darcy.

Question 7

Type 2. Antiheroic

Answer 7

An antiheroic climax is where the protagonist chooses to stay the same and rely on old patterns of behavior. For example, in The Picture of Dorian Gray, the Dorian decides to destroy his portrait, which is evidence of his corruption, rather than confess to murder.

Question 8

Analyzing the Story Climax

Answer 8

Does the protagonist of the unit of story make the choice?
Is it complicated in some way?
What does it reveal about the protagonist’s character?

Question 9

Does the protagonist of the unit of story make the choice?

Answer 9

Ensure the protagonist of the unit of story is making the choice. This should be the same character that faced the crisis choice.

Question 10

Is it complicated in some way?

Answer 10

Explain the complications that occurred while the protagonist enacted the climax decision. The climax should be a full unit of story with complications, instead of a simplistic execution. Explain the complications that occurred while the protagonist enacted the climax decision.

Question 11

What does it reveal about the protagonist’s character?

Answer 11

Describe how the climax illuminates the protagonist’s character by reviewing the alternative options the protagonist did not choose. Look at how the climax reveals the protagonist’s priorities and how they value different costs and benefits.