What does a narrative arc illustrate in a story?

A narrative arc illustrates the chronological construction of plot, which encompasses the sequence of events that take place in a story. It typically follows a structured progression that includes an introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. This structure helps readers follow the development of the story and understand how each event builds upon the previous ones to create tension and lead to the climax, ultimately shaping the overall narrative experience.

This understanding of the narrative arc is central to analyzing how stories are constructed and how they engage an audience, as it captures both the temporal flow of events and the relationships between them. While other aspects like character emotions, author's style, and historical context are relevant to stories, they do not directly illustrate the narrative arc itself, which is fundamentally focused on the plot's chronological development.