What do we call the series of events that lead up to the climax in a narrative?

The series of events that lead up to the climax in a narrative is known as the rising action. This part of the story develops the conflict and builds tension as it progresses toward the climax—the moment of greatest intensity or turning point. During the rising action, characters face challenges and experience changes that contribute to the development of the narrative.

This stage is crucial because it keeps the reader engaged by creating suspense and a need to know how the storyline will resolve. It involves various events that complicate the initial situation and lead to the climax, preparing the reader for the peak of the story. In contrast, the exposition is the introduction to the setting and characters, the falling action occurs after the climax, resolving the conflict, and the inciting incident is the event that starts the main conflict or action of the story.