What is the meaning of "falling action"?

There are
generally five basic parts to a story: the , the rising action, the , the falling action, and
the resolution (sometimes called the '').

The exposition introduces the story
in general and usually contains an 'initial incident,' which is an action that begins the
conflict and draws the reader into the story.

The rising action is the series
of events leading up to the climax. There may be plot twists, newintroduced, or other events
themust handle. 

The climax occurs when there is the greatest tension in the
story and the events reach a crisis point.

Then comes the falling action.
Falling action is the series of events just after the climax, sort of a 'slowing down' of the
action as the story draws to a final close, which is the resolution.

In , the falling action occurs right after the climax in
whichfinds out he is the man who has brought the plague on Thebes when he unknowingly killed his
father and married his mother. 

In the falling action, adelivers the news
thatis dead, then another messenger announces that King Oedipus has blinded himself. The ruined
king asksto banish him from Thebes for the rest of his life, and he visits his children one last
time before he leaves.