* Charles's Initial Impressions: Charles arrives at his grandmother's house with a preconceived notion of her as a kind, old woman. He is immediately confronted with a stark contrast—his grandmother is imposing, stern, and seemingly unwelcoming.
* The Revelation of the Past: The family's reunion dinner reveals the first cracks in Charles's naive understanding. His grandmother's dismissive attitude toward her deceased husband and his family's struggles in the past foreshadow a more complex story.
* The Unveiling of the Secret: The revelation that Charles's grandmother had a relationship with a white man, a "white lover" as his Aunt Lou describes it, shakes Charles's foundation. It challenges the idealized image he held of his grandmother and fuels a sense of confusion and betrayal.
* Charles's Internal Conflict: As the night progresses, Charles experiences a growing sense of unease. He is torn between his desire to understand his grandmother's past and his discomfort with the truth he is learning. He struggles to reconcile the seemingly contradictory aspects of his grandmother's personality.
* The Confrontation with His Aunt Lou: The confrontation between Charles and his Aunt Lou reveals a deeper conflict within the family. Aunt Lou's bitterness and resentment toward her sister reflect a long-standing tension stemming from their different approaches to life and the realities of their past.
* The Grandmother's Story: The grandmother's story about the white man and her motivations behind her actions further amplifies the tension. This story reveals a hidden side of her character, revealing her as a woman who made difficult choices in the face of prejudice and societal constraints.
* The Climax: The climax of the rising action is Charles's emotional outburst at the dinner table. He questions his grandmother about her past and confronts her with his own confusion and disappointment. This confrontation marks a turning point in the story, leading to the resolution and Charles's eventual understanding.
The rising action of "A Visit to Grandmother" is not simply a series of events; it is a journey of self-discovery for Charles as he grapples with the complex realities of his family history and his grandmother's hidden past. This journey is characterized by growing tension, emotional turmoil, and a gradual unveiling of truth that challenges Charles's initial perceptions and ultimately leads to a profound change in his understanding of his family and himself.