Most good stories start with a fundamental list of ingredients: the initial situation, conflict, complication, climax, suspense, denouement, and conclusion. Great writers sometimes shake up the recipe and add some spice.
Exposition (Initial Situation)
Sticks and Stones. . .and a Name that Breaks A Reputation
Our chatty narrator shows us around the town of Dawson's Landing and gets us acquainted with some of its quirkier residents like David "Pudd'nhead" Wilson, a guy who loves collecting other people's fingerprints and who has become known as the town fool (hence the unfortunate nickname).
We're also made privy to Roxy's incredible scheme of switching Tom and Chambers to ensure that her baby doesn't grow up a slave. This is textbook exposition since we learn about both our key players as well as the situation of mistaken identity upon which the entire rest of the story will build. Nice going, Mr. Twain.
Rising Action (Conflict, Complication)
The Perfect Crime?
Naughty Tom racks up a boatload of gambling debts and, after failing to come up with the money to pay them off by other means, decides to rob his uncle. When Tom bungles the job and kills Driscoll instead, the murder is pinned on Luigi and Angelo. The story really starts to heat up here and the temperature continues to skyrocket so, yeah, this is rising action to say the least.
These conflicts and complications do deviate a wee bit from those of some other stories because they don't directly involve our protagonist, Pudd'nhead. However, we should keep in mind that Tom's actions in this part of the novel are what eventually makes Pudd'nhead's comeback possible.
Climax (Crisis, Turning Point)
The Proof is in the Pudd'nhead
Using his fingerprint collection, our man Pudd'nhead proves the twins' innocence and shows that Tom is guilty of murder and reveals to everyone that Tom and Chambers were switched so that Tom is actually a slave. Uh-huh, you've got to see this one to believe it.
This is the kind of climax legends are made of; Pudd'nhead gets to argue his case in front of the whole town since they're gathered to watch the trial. How's that for dramatic? And Pudd'nhead's triumphant moment in court marks a crucial turning point since it allows him to redeem his reputation and become someone everyone respects.
Falling Action
Who You Calling Pudd'nhead Now?
Tom is thrown in the slammer while Pudd'nhead enjoys his status as the hero of Dawson's Landing. Even though these events are mega-monumental, there's not much to-do made about them so we can sense our story drawing to a close.
Resolution (Denouement)
Rolling, Rolling, Rolling Down the River
We learn that Tom was eventually released from prison and sold into slavery—in fact, he's sold Down the River. Our narrator throws us this one last tidbit about Tom's fate that's sure to leave us with our mouths hanging open. Since Tom sold his own mother down the river, we can't help but appreciate the irony that Tom's met the same fate.
It's kind of like a resolution with a cherry on top.