Structure

Post Written By: Chris Stein

     There are many structure forms in literature, the most common being exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. This is similar to a musical structure for songs which tends to be verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus in most forms of music produced in America. 

     An exposition sets the scene, introduces the characters - especially the main character- and gives background. Rising action builds tension within the reader, and leads to the peak action known as the climax. The climax of a story is the point of greatest tension and often times a turning point - an epic battle scene, a face-off between two superheros or the point where the protagonist ultimately accomplishes or doesn't accomplish their goal. Following the climax is falling action, where a multitude of events can occur, all with less tension or importance than the climax. To tie up all loose ends and leave the reader in a state of satisfaction, the story concludes with a resolution. This structure is common and perhaps overused in commercial fiction, making most of its books predictable and, in the mind of most scholars, completely useless in the realm of literature (ex. Steven King novels). Although, plots can deviate from this traditional structure in experimantal literature such as stream of consciousness. 

     In a similar way, music has structure and form among its many defining elements. Most music follows a general pattern of verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus with minor deviations to make the song more pleasing or displeasing to the ear. This is called the ABC pattern. 

     Structures within art forms such as literary fiction and music help define and unify the work. Sometimes rigid, overused structures make the work predictable and easily forgettable which is why, over the years, authors and artists alike have broken the tradition and branched out in form and structure to make a more memorable and interesting work. As an audience, we live for the deviation. Occasionally we enjoy traditional literature and music, but just as nobody wants to read the same book over and over for the rest of their life, no one would want to listen to the same song over and over on repeat, and therefore structure and form must deviate in order to keep interest and gain or maintain reputation.