Description: To explore and use the 4 most common story structure components.

Leader: Wesley
Moderator(s):

Objectives: To write a narrative or dramatic poem of moderate size.

Level of expertise: Open to all

Subject matter: We’ll start with a generalized discussion of story structure, that is to say, Exposition, Complication, Climax, Resolution. These are the structures that are older than written language. A plethora of different methods exist today, but all are simply variations on the same theme. Sometimes adding (crisis), sometimes splitting, but always using these four elements.

A narrative poem is verse in which the story is told for the most part by a single voice.
Dramatic poetry is verse in which the characters themselves tell the story with their own voices.

Exposition is the information necessary to tell the story.
Complication is the first of successive deviations from the status quo developed in the exposition.
Climax is the moment when the deviations and the status quo come to a head. It can be as astounding as an atomic bomb or the look in the eye of the Doctor when he walked in.
Resolution is a return to the new status quo.

In Western Narrative Tradition these four components appear in every story whether intentionally or not. The four situational blocks can be analyzed and found in any story that seems a story to our Western ears.

Activity:
I’m going to ask you to write a long poem. Each poem must conform to the four story blocks. Exposition, Complication, Climax, Resolution. Each of these must be clear in the poem. I’m trusting the discussion period will facilitate questions and answers to further clarify the four.

There are no restrictions on form. The poet should revert to his/her most comfortable poetic format and style. A discussion on length will be one of the first topics.