What is the Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution of the song Cat's in the Cradle

I am 13 years old.

The exposition of Cat's Cradle takes up a hefty portion of the book—chapters 1-59 by our best guess. See, the exposition is the part of the novel where the information needed to understand the story is given. That requires the book to answer the following questions:

•Who are these characters?

•What world do they live in?

•How are they related?

•What do they want?

•What is the conflict between them?

John answers these questions as he gathers data for his book on the atomic bomb. Like, he learns who Felix Hoenikker is from Newt's letter. And he discovers the existence of ice-nine from Dr. Breed. Then, while hanging around Ilium, he gathers further information on the Hoenikker children.

Rising Action

Worst Thing in the Caribbean

The rising action introduces part two of the dramatic structure. Here, the plot is complicated, and the protagonist faces more challenges. This section of the story takes place on San Lorenzo, between the time of the landing and the ice-nine apocalypse, so…let's say chapters 60-115.

Climax

Fire and Ice

The climax, or turning point, is when the ice-nine hits the fan. Only, in this case, instead of a fan it's the entire ocean. The climax takes place in chapter 116. Yep, it only takes up 1/127th of the novel's reading time. Yet, it may be the most important chapter in the book.

Falling Action

The Worldwide Ski Resort

In a normal falling action, the conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist would begin to build up and head for the story's ending. And while Cat's Cradle is certainly heading toward its ending, we can't really say the conflict is heating up (pun intended). Ice-nine has clearly won.

Resolution

The Happy Ending, a.k.a. Well, It Could Be Worse

The resolution is the part of the story that wraps up what needs wrapping up and leaves us with that contented sigh as we put the book back on the shelf.

Is that sighworthy for you?