Fire Rising Action Analysis

Exposition: Matt is in the hospital, and is awarded the purple heart. Matt is suffering from traumatic brain injury and is trying to remember what happened the day of the accident. All he can remember is a dog with a pigtail and a little boy with a soccer ball, with shots being fired around him. He needs to find out what happened on the day of the accident.

Initiating Incident: Matt tries to figure out what happened on the day of the accident. Justin tells Matt that they got separated from their squad. The Talabi then fired an RPG at him. Type of conflict: Man vs. Self
Problem: Even though Justin tells Matt what happened that day he continues to see visions of the dog with a pigtail and a little boy named Ali.

3 Rising Action Events: Matt grows close to Francis who accidentally shot his squad leader. Matt begins to have more visions of what happened the day of the accident. Matt talks to the hospital therapist, Megan. Matt thinks he killed Ali, Lieutenant colonel Fuchs calls him to his office trying to determine who killed Ali. Megan eventually clears Matt and he was released to go back to his squad. Matt is excited when he returns to his squad but something feels different.
Climax: Matt and the squad are patrolling a sector and he is paired with Charlene when a festival is taking place.
Matt begins to think that Charlene is cute, in the middle of his thought a flash of light, and metal knocks out Charlene. Gunfire is being exchanged between both sides, Matt does not think that he can shoot a gun again because he still believes he killed Ali. A terrorist aims a grenade launcher at Justin, and Matt shoots him. Two of his squad members are dead including Charlene. Justin is severally
injured.

Falling Action: As the medics are looking at Justin, he begins to tell Matt the truth about what actually happened the day of the accident. Justin tells Matt he shot Ali because he was a spy for the Taliban. After the chaotic day of two deaths and many injuries, the squad heads back to their bunker.

Resolution: Matt’s leader asked him if he wanted to the supply building with him. As the leader is in the supply building, Matt stays outside across from an elementary school. The kids are out at recess, playing soccer, which reminds him of Ali. The kids accidentally kick the ball into the road when a bus is coming. Matt goes to get the ball when a little girl gives him a thumbs up, this is when he realized that everything was going to be alright.