Cold Mountain Three-Act Plot Analysis

Act I

Act I lasts until Inman decides to run away from the Confederate Army hospital and go home to Ada. That's the point where he's committed to going home and the plot really kicks off.

Act II

Phew! Act II goes on forever, really until the moment that Inman is shot by the Home Guard at the very end of the book proper. Talk about far from resolution. We don't even know if the hero is alive or dead until the Epilogue.

Act III

Wow, this epilogue works overtime. It's pretty much all of Act III, where everything is wrapped up. We finally learn what happened to Inman, Ada, Stobrod, and Ruby, and a few other characters too. Stick on that last piece of tape and tie a bow on it.