3.10 Climax: The Fight For freedom

Explain the climax of the text and describe the challenges that came with ‘the promise’
Chapters: another ivan; days; nights; project; not right; going nowhere; bad guys; ad; imagining; not-tag; one more thing; the seven-o’clock show; twelve; H; nervous; showing julia; more painting; chest beating; angry; puzzle pieces; finally; the next morning; mad human

The climax is the most exciting and important moment in a story.
It is the turning point where the problem or conflict becomes the most intense.1
The climax is usually the moment when the protagonist (main character) faces their biggest challenge or obstacle and makes an important decision that changes the direction of the story.1
The climax is the most memorable and impactful part of the story. It leads to the events that follow, called the falling action and resolution. After the climax, the tension and conflict starts to settle down, and the story moves toward its ending. The climax is important because it connects all parts of the story and makes the ending meaningful.1

In The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, the climax happens when Ivan creates a painting that is shown in a local art exhibit. This is a pivotal moment in the story because it represents Ivan's realisation of his artistic abilities and his desire for a better life outside of his small enclosure in the Big Top Mall.
After spending many years in captivity, Ivan is inspired by Ruby, a young elephant, to use his art to help them find a better home. With the help of his friends, Ivan creates a painting that captures the attention of the public and sparks a movement to free the animals from the mall.
The climax occurs when the painting is displayed in the art exhibit and people begin to see Ivan not as a wild animal to be caged, but as an artist with talent and potential. This moment marks the turning point in Ivan's life and sets the stage for the rest of the story as he and his friends work to find a new home where they can live in freedom and dignity.

Glossary

Protagonist: The main character in a story
Tension: The suspense or excitement built up throughout the story, especially before the climax
Art exhibit: A public display of art where paintings or sculptures are shown for people to view
Artistic abilities: the skills or talent someone has in creating art
Enclosure: A space where animals are kept, often implying captivity
Movement: A group effort to bring about change, in this case, to free the animals from captivity

The climax is the most exciting and important part of the story.
In The One and Only Ivan, the climax happens when Ivan shares his message through his painting. The public notices his artwork, and media attention leads to public outcry, which helps the animals get sent to a zoo.

1 Teaching Plot Structure Through Short Stories. Read WriteThink (2022). from (link)

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