This is the Freytag Pyramid, which breaks narrative into its parts. Normally, we start at the beginning of the story on the exposition and follow through cronologically to the end, the denouement. (It’s Fronch, so don’t say the ‘nt’ on the end, of course.)

I set myself a challenge of plotting a narrative that has nine different sections that are chronologically reversed. Obviously, inside every section, the story would be told chronologically. But could I create a plot that works as a satisfying plot where we keep jumping back in time? Does suspense and resolution still work?

Thumb

This story centers on the genetic quirk of the hitchhiker’s thumb (do you remember this from High-school?)

• hh – Hitchiker’s thumb. Homozygous recessive.
• Hh – Straight thumb. Hetereozygous dominant
• HH – straight thumb. Homozygous dominant

Thumb

The Exposition (which is chronologically the Denouement) takes place on a construction worksite. Tom, a young apprientice has only been working for a short time, is back to work from a funeral, and is grateful for his job. He has steel-like resolve to be a good employee, and to be honest and true and loyal to Carl, his boss. Tom is probably trying a bit hard, and it causes Carl, his boss, to hit his thumb with a hammer. Tom expects that Carl will fire him for the mistake, but Carl holds up both his thumbs and shows Tom that the damage is not permanent. Both thumbs are as straight as ever. It’s all good.

The Inciting Incident (which is chronically the Resolution) – Tom’s father’s death bed. Tom’s father, Jack, apologises to Tom. “I’m sorry for how I treated your mother. She didn’t deserve it!” “No, she didn’t!” Tom agrees. “And I’m sorry for how I treated you.”

The Rising Action (which is cronologically the Falling Action) – Tom’s mother, Lily, spirals into self-destruction of alcohol and death. Jack, Tom’s father, is unsympathetic, blaming her. Tom is barely holding it together. He wants to get out of his family, and has plans to go to uni, but part way through his biology exam, he sees a question on genetics (thumbs). (He has not seen this before in class.) The info in the exam shakes him, but we don’t know why. He walks out and does not return. He hitchhikes out of town with nothing but the clothes on his back. His hitchhiking thumb is straight. He starts a new job with carpenter, Carl, an old family friend, who treats him well.

Complication (which is chronologically the Reversal) There is a big fight between Tom and his father, Jack. “It’s your fault you’re divorced!”  Tom says. “No, it’s yours!” Jack says. “How is it my fault?” Tom asks. We can see this is the final straw to unresolved conflict. But what caused it?

Climax (which is the climax) – Tom’s parents divorce, and Tom’s life implodes. He is bereft.

The Reversal (which is chronologically the Complication) – Tom catches a glimpse of a close relationship between Lily, his mum, and Carl, her friend from school. Carl looks shocked to see Tom witnessing this moment, but he is not upset at Tom for seeing it. Jack, Tom’s father, is very jealous of Carl and suspects there is an affair. Lily denies it.

The falling Action (which is chronologically the Rising Action). As Tom grows, there is tension between his parents, and Tom thinks it is all his fault. The way his dad looks at him makes him feel like he has done something wrong. He doesn’t understand it. Carl, a friend of his mother’s comes and goes occasionally. There is no affair between them.

The Resolution (which is chronologically the Inciting Incident). Tom’s third birthday, cowboy themed. Carl comes to the party, and there is a photo of all four of them, dressed up in cowboy gear, giving the camera a thumbs-up. It’s clear from the photo that Tom has a straight thumb, and both Lily and Jack have hitch-hiker thumbs. Carl and Jack are friends.

The Denouement (which is chronologically the Exposition). Lily is young and pregnant. Carl, a drifter she had a fling with, has left. Jack, her fiance is a bit scary. She has a steel like resolve to protect her unborn child.

It almost works, but the ending is a bit obvious??? Or maybe the ending of many stories are obvious…