The Fichtean Curve: How Stories Thrive in Crises

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Sometimes stories have well-paced set-ups that slowly increase in intensity as the world is established and the characters introduced. Other times, writers like to immediately get the show on the road by starting with crisis upon crisis until it reaches a climax.

The latter is shaped into a narrative structure called a Fichtean curve. Here, introductions are skipped and characters are immediately thrown into trouble.

What is a Fichtean Curve?

The Fichtean curve is a story structure that uses multiple conflicts—whether minor or major—to propel your story forward, from the very beginning. These conflicts occur one after the other, each with its own rising and falling action, until the narrative reaches a climax, from which point things slowly settle down into normalcy.

This structure is split into three parts:

  1. Rising Action
  2. Climax
  3. Falling Action

When graphed, this structure resembles a dorsal fin. The curves of the fin represent the crises that the story goes through until it reaches the climax.

Note that while it sounds similar to in media res, the Fichtean curve is different. In media res drops a character in the middle of event, but the overall story usually only involves one large problem.

On the other hand, the Fichtean curve introduces a sequence of rapid up and downs that culminate into a grand crisis. The former can meander on, while the latter, by its nature, is fast paced.

This structure was fleshed out by John Gardner in his 1983 book, The Art of Fiction. While the basic elements of the rising action, climax, and falling action existed way before him, it was he who first arranged them into this pattern.

Rising Action

Instead of a lengthy setup to introduce the setting and characters, your narrative jumps into the thick of the action. Readers are immediately introduced to a series of escalating crises. They get bigger and worse until they reach a final, much larger crisis. Approximately two-thirds of your story occurs in this part.

Wordlbuilding, backstories, and character development happen during the action. As such, stories that use the Fichtean curve are often fast-paced and suspenseful.

Climax

This is the biggest moment in your story—the event that can either redeem or destroy your protagonist. It can be a major reveal, a terrible loss, or a final battle.

Each minor crisis should add to the climax in some way. The more that a character’s prior experiences affects the climax, the more impactful it will be. They overcome adversity because of their growth or fail due their lack of it.

Falling Action

This is the part where you let your story (and your readers) breathe. At this point, things begin to cool down as you move to the resolution.

Of course, the resolution depends on how well your characters handle the crises you throw at them. Some may be resolved while others are left open for the readers to ask questions.

Fichtean Curve Examples

This type of structure lends itself well to stories that rely on fast pacing such as thrillers, science-fiction, war novels, and fantasy. Here are a few examples of these stories, broken down into their relevant parts.

1. Star Wars: A New Hope

  • Crisis 1: Princess Leia, a leader of the Rebellion, is captured by the Galactic Empire though her droids are able to escape on a nearby planet.
  • Crisis 2: The droids encounter Luke, who is waylaid by Sand People.
  • Crisis 3: Luke’s aunt and uncle are killed and their farm destroyed by stormtroopers in search of the droids.
  • Crisis 4: Teaming up with Han Solo, they are pursued as they leave the planet.
  • Crisis 5: The planet Alderaan is destroyed while Luke and his companions are captured.
  • Crisis 6: The team rescue the princess but Obi-Wan is killed.
  • Crisis 7: Though they escape, the Death Star tracks them down to the Rebel base.
  • Climax: Guided by Obi-Wan’s spirit, Luke manages to destroy the Death Star.
  • Falling Action: The Rebels celebrate their victory, with the princess awarding Luke and Han for their efforts.

2. A Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

  • Crisis 1: A freak tornado sweeps away Dorothy’s house.
  • Crisis 2: The house crushes the Wicked Witch of the East, leading to the Wicked With of the West threatening Dorothy.
  • Crisis 3: Dorothy meets three companions on the way to the Wizard of Oz. The Scarecrow wants a brain. The Tinman wants a heart. The Cowardly Lion wants courage.
  • Crisis 4: The Wicked Witch slows them down.
  • Crisis 5: The Wizard of Oz won’t help until they obtain the Wicked Witch’s broom.
  • Crisis 6: Flying monkeys capture the group and take them to the Wicked Witch.
  • Climax: Dorothy and her friends melt the witch.
  • Falling Action 1: They finally meet the wizard.
  • Falling Action 2: Dorothy’s friends get what they were searching for.
  • Falling Action 3: Dorothy gets to go home.

Why Use the Fichtean Curve?

With the Fichtean curve, your story rarely lets go of its momentum. You pile mishaps upon mishaps, triumphs upon triumphs. You throw your readers into a tense atmosphere that never really goes away. It’s a simple technique that keeps your audience turning the pages, unwilling to let go.

Unlike other narrative structures, the only rule with the Fichtean curve is to present a series of escalating problems. This allows you more freedom when constructing your story. Add as many crises as you like.

And because it lets you do the exposition alongside the action, you’re able to trim off a lot of fat. You’re able to get away with just a little context as readers are more concerned with how your characters develop.

This gives you space to delve deeper into your characters by demonstrating how they resist the many problems being thrown at them.

What do you think of the Fichtean curve? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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