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exposition
Sophie's father dies. Fanny, Sophie's stepmother, sends the three daughters out to "seek their fortune". Sophie, being the eldest is set up to inherit the family's hat shop. the other two sisters are sent to be apprentices elsewhere. Sophie is good at making hats and many people come in to buy them. Sophie enjoys making hats but feels dull and lonely with nobody to talk to.She decides to go visit her sister Lettie. Sophie discovers that her sisters have traded places, she returns to the hat shop -
Period: to
Howl's moving castle
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conflict
Sophie loses customers because she is angered after finding out that she was not being credited for her hard work. The notorious "Witch of the Waste" comes into the hat shop, commanding Sophie to find her a hat. Sophie does not know the lady is the witch and snaps after the witch complains about the hats. the witch turns Sophie into an old woman and leaves the hat shop. Sophie knows she cannot stay and leaves the hat shop to seek her fortune. -
rising action
as sophie travels along she meets some new friends, a walking stick, a dog, and a scarecrow.by the end of the night sophie contemplates going back but knows she has already gone too far, she needs somewhere to rest. she continues on but starts to hear huffing and puffing, as she looks up she sees Howl's castle. she had heard stories about Howl, how he eats the hearts of young girls but she decides that he wouldnt eat the heart of an old lady and enters the castle. -
rising action
Once sophie enters the castle and sits by the fire.Micheal, the young boy there tells her that he is Howl's apprentice and that Howl will not be home by morning.Micheal leaves and as Sophie drifts off to sleep she discovers that the fire is actually a fire demon named Calcifer.They make a bargain, sophie will break Calcifers contract with Howl and Calcifer will break Sophie's spell she's under.Sophie awakens and discovers that the door she had come in is magical and opens to several locations. -
turning point
After living with Howl for a while Sophie learns many things about him. He is very vain, he does not eat girls hearts, He is a great wizard with many names,he is originally from a place called Wales, and The Witch of the Waste has put a curse on Howl that is catching up with him.Howl tries to run but knows he must face her. He prepares for battle and they fight for several hours in which there is a great deal of witchcracft. -
turning point
Sophie goes to face the witch but the witch is too strong and ties sophie up. Sophie tries to fight back but she is too weak, sophie discovers that the witch's plan is to create the perfect wizard made up of Howl and two other wizards. The witch was using her as bait for Howl. Howl comes to save Sophie and defeats the witch. -
falling action
Sophie discovers what the contract between Howl and Calcifer was.Calcifer used to be a falling star and when howl caught him, they made a bargain and calcifer became part of Howl, his heart.Sophie had to break the contract or Howl would become just like the witch.She puts Howl's heart back in his body and he finds out that Sophie was the young girl he tried to court on may day. Howl is finally honest with someone and they live happily ever after.
