Cause and Effect in Plot
摘要
In this chapter, I discuss cause and effect in plot. I explain standard plot points: expositionexposition, inciting incidentinciting incident, rising actionrising action, crisiscrisis, climaxclimax, and resolution, and discuss, with examples from three very different novels, how causationcausation plays a role in each of these. I also discuss suspensesuspense and how it constrains causation and also depends on readers’ intense curiosity about dramatic questions including causal questions.