The Interlopers- Rising Action by Michael Nguyen [Student FVHS]

Rising Action Plot Element

PikachuMan — 2015-09-22 18:50:20 UTC

In the rising action of "The Interlopers", Ulrich and Georg speak to each other for the first time in years while stuck under a fallen tree together. The dialogue between the two characters builds up excitement because the author makes it clear that the characters are archenemies. When the characters reconcile and try to figure out an escape plan, the reader is unsure of the state of their relationship and how the story will turn out, hence adding more build-up to the conflict.

Quotes

juhaina62010 — 2015-09-22 18:54:14 UTC

"The two enemies stood glaring at one another for a long silent moment. Each had a rifle in his hand, each had hate in his heart and murder uppermost in his mind. The chance had come to give full play to the passions of a lifetime." (pg 190)

*The first quote contributes to the rising action because it causes the tension between the two characters to rise as the conflict approaches closer.

"The feud might, perhaps, have died down or been compromised if the personal ill will of the two men had not stood in the way: as boys they had thirsted for one another's blood, as each men each prayed that misfortune might fall on the other..." (pg 190)

*The significance of the second quote is that it foreshadows future bad luck: soon after the two men meet, a mass of falling beech tree falls on top of them. Both of the enemies had ill wishes for each other, but a tree branch falls and traps both of them.

Video

PikachuMan — 2015-09-22 19:07:04 UTC

This short video connects to the rising action of this story since many forms of irony are shown. This relates to some text in the story: "Each man prayed that misfortune might fall on the other..." (pg 190) It is ironic since Ulrich and Georg both wish misfortune to fall on the other, but a tree falls on both of them, trapping them.

Symbol

PikachuMan — 2015-09-23 18:33:05 UTC

The fallen tree symbolizes the unpredictability of life , since on page 190, the author states that both enemies wanted misfortune to "fall" on the other. A nearby tree, however, falls on top of them, and actually brings the two former enemies closer as a result, which was an unexpected outcome.