Story Elements: The Plot “Where the Red Fern Grows”

Plot Diagram

Exposition Exposition: The beginning of the story, introducing characters, setting and main conflict.

Exposition The story begins with the introduction of narrator, Billy Colman as an adult. He witnesses a dog fight that triggers a memory of his youth.

Event Map (Exposition) Billy is now ten years old. He describes the setting (time and place) of the story and the main characters. He tells of his wish to get coonhounds. Billy works to earn the money to buy hounds he saw advertised in an old newspaper. Once he gets the money, he asks his grandpa to order the hounds.

Event Map (Exposition) He cannot wait to get a ride to Talequah, where the hounds have been shipped. He walks many miles to Talequah to get the puppies and describes his adventure to the reader. He names his dogs Old Dan and Little Ann.

Why are these events the exposition? The characters are introduced. The setting is described. A conflict is revealed.

Exposition (Introduction) Billy Colman (main character) The Ozarks/The Great Depression (setting) Billy wants hunting dogs (main conflict)

Rising Action Billy trains his dogs tirelessly. His first raccoon is trapped in a very large sycamore tree. He works all night to cut it down, even though it should have been too difficult for him. Billy does it out of allegiance to his dogs.

Event Map (Rising Action) Soon, Billy becomes one of the best hunters in the area. He hunts almost every night and Grandpa helps him sell the skins. One night, Little Ann almost drowns, but Billy’s determination and courage helps him save the dog.

Event Map (Rising Action) Two brothers, Rubin and Rainie Pritchard, who are characterized as being mean and aggressive, bet Billy that he cannot trap a “ghost coon”. Billy traps the raccoon but lets it go because he feels sorry and or respects it. In the aftermath, the Pritchard boys become unruly; Rubin accidentally falls on an axe and dies. Billy is very sad, gives flowers to the family and almost gives up hunting.

Event Map (Rising Action) Grandpa enters Billy and the dogs in a competition that awards money. The first day, Little Ann is named the best looking dog and wins a silver cup.

Rising Action Billy trains his dogs. The dogs become expert hunters. Rubin Pritchard dies in an accident. After giving up hunting, Billy enters a raccoon hunting competition.

Event Map (Climax) Billy qualifies for the championship round. During the hunt, there is a big snow storm and Grandpa fall and Billy, his dad, Grandpa and the dogs are in danger. Even so, they kill the fourth raccoon, win the championship and are rescued. Billy wins $300.

Climax During the competition, a storm comes in, Grandpa falls and is injured. Billy and the dogs win the competition and the $300 prize.

Event Map (Falling Action) Definition: the part of the plot that follows the climax. At this point, the “loose ends” begin to be tied up. In this novel, the falling action begins with the death of the dogs, and the decision of the family to move to the city.

Falling Action After the competition, Billy continues to hunt. Old Dan is severely injured in a fight with a mountain lion and dies. Little Ann dies shortly after, heartbroken. The Colmans use the money earned from hunting to move to the city.

Denouement (Resolution) Definition: the resolution of any conflicts that have been part of the plot. As the Colman family is leaving for the city, Billy goes to the river to visit the graves of Old Dan and Little Ann. He sees the sacred red fern growing between their graves. The meaning of this, as explained by the old Indian legend, gives him the peace that he’s been looking for.

Denouement (Conclusion) As they are leaving on their move, Billy visits the graves of the dogs. A red fern is growing in between the graves fulfilling an Indian legend. Billy finds peace.