Elements of Fiction II—Exposition

If narrative is story-telling, exposition is explanation. Going back to the nursery rhyme about Jack and Jill:

Jack and Jill

Went up the hill

To fetch a pail of water.

 Jack fell down

And broke his crown,

And Jill came tumbling after.

We know the general outline of the story. And we know through some handy exposition their goal: to fetch a pail of water. But who were they? Were they children? Were they siblings or just friends? Why did they need a pail of water? How tall was the hill? Why were two needed? Did Jack ask Jill to go along or did their mother or father tell them to? There are more questions begging answers about their trip back. You can figure them out: how, where, when, why. And about their lives before and after the trip.

Here’s some possible exposition I just thought up t fill out the first half of the story:

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack was 5 years old, Jill 8, and their family was not a very happy one. Their mother, who hadn’t wanted children in the first place, had to send the children for the water because their father had gone downtown to meet some friends for beers without bringing the full pail back to his wife, who needed the water for her wash. Jack’s mother made Jill go along because Jack wasn’t strong enough to carry it by himself. Jack didn’t want Jill to go along. Jill certainly didn’t want to go, and certainly didn’t want to be with Jack. Jack thought his sister was fat and bossy and overbearing, always telling him what to do. Jill thought Jack was an obnoxious pest and wished he would run away from home and be eaten by some wild animal and never return. Their mother was furious at her husband because, as much as she has insisted, he has failed to dig a well closer to the house so she wouldn’t have to depend on her miserable children. She was also furious because he’s off drinking beer and having fun while she has to ride herd on her little monsters, and because he never invites her to go off and drink beer together. She certainly couldn’t go herself because someone needed to be home to guard the house while their father is downtown drinking beer with his friends. She looked at her watch after a few minutes. Why weren’t the children back with the water yet? Had something happened to them? Had a homicidal maniac kidnapped them? Losing her children was the last thing she wanted.  

My exposition needs a lot of work. Try your own hand at it.  

Next: Elements of Fiction III –Dialog.