The climax of a story can happen halfway through a story or very near the end. There is no set time when it should occur, but it should be an action/event that leaves the reader with a sense of excitement or tension.
Answer these questions to help you revise the climax in ‘The Hero of Drumree’. 1. Who is the protagonist? 2. What is his problem? 3. How does this problem get worse for him? 4. What is the most exciting part of the story, in your opinion?
5. What happens after the exciting moment you have picked? Do things change for the protagonist?
Write about the Eff ectiveness of a Key Moment [W8]
Choose a short story you have studied and discuss how the author created a moment of high tension/drama.
Sample Answer (Higher Level) In the short story ‘The Hero of Drumree’ by Derek Landy, the author creates a moment of high tension and drama with the climax of the story. ‘Then someone else stepped on his face and he gladly sank into unconsciousness.’
student points
student illustrates Revise
the guide to building suspense and tension on pages 213–14.
student explains
At this moment we suspect that the main character Fleece may be dead or soon will be and are left wondering what will happen next. The author builds up to this moment very carefully. He has provided us with a dramatic set ing, a bat lefi eld, where Fleece is ‘jammed right in the middle of ten thousand Hibernian soldiers’ and ‘swords were drawn and held aloft’. The main character is very clearly in danger, and even though Fleece is not a very likeable or admirable character, we are intrigued by what may happen to him. The climax is also fi lled with dramatic action. Fleece must face off against the Fomorian King Gricenchos. He is lifted off the ground by Gricenchos but manages to throw cow’s blood in his eyes and force his at acker to drop him. It is then he is trampled and left for dead.
