In a literary text what is the inciting incident

1 answer

The inciting incident is the event or situation that sets the main conflict of the story in motion. It is the moment when the protagonist's life is disrupted and they are forced to take action. The inciting incident usually occurs early in the story, often in the first chapter or scene, and it sets the stage for the rest of the plot. It is a crucial element in plot development because it creates tension and sets the story in motion. Without an inciting incident, there would be no story to tell.