What follows the climax and leads towards the resolution of the story?

The phase that follows the climax and leads towards the resolution of the story is known as the falling action. During this stage, the intense action and conflict from the climax begin to subside, and the story starts to wrap up plot points and character arcs. The falling action serves to address the aftermath of the climax, allowing characters to reflect on the events that have transpired and revealing how their conflicts are being resolved. This is crucial for transitioning the narrative toward its conclusion, where all loose ends are tied up, and the overall themes can be clarified for the reader.

The other elements mentioned, such as exposition, rising action, and inciting incident, are part of the story's structure but occur at different stages. Exposition introduces the background, setting, and characters; rising action develops the central conflict through events leading up to the climax; and inciting incident is the moment that sets the main plot in motion. Each of these components plays a unique role in narrative development, but it is the falling action that specifically follows the climax and prepares the audience for the resolution.