The Story’s Bow

Worksheet Description

This worksheet is centered around the concept of the denouement in narrative structure, derived from the French word meaning “to untie.” It lists the characteristics of a denouement, such as following the story’s falling action, serving as an epilogue, potentially indicating a continuation, and providing the final words of a story. Students are instructed to identify the denouement in a story they have read and discuss how each listed characteristic applies or does not apply to that story’s denouement. This encourages them to closely analyze how a narrative concludes and the various forms that conclusion can take.

The worksheet is designed to teach students the complexity of crafting a story’s conclusion. It helps them understand that a denouement is not just the end of a story but a critical element that ensures all plotlines are coherently resolved or appropriately continued. By evaluating these aspects in a story they have read, students learn to discern the effectiveness of different types of denouements. This exercise develops their analytical thinking about narrative structures and enhances their ability to critically engage with literature.