Final answer:
Rising action in a story develops conflicts and builds tension, leading up to the climax while engaging the reader and deepening character development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of rising action in a story is to build up to the climax by introducing and developing conflicts and by creating tension. This phase of the story narrative is crucial because it is where the characters encounter various obstacles and the overarching conflict intensifies, engaging the reader and preparing them for the story's climax. The rising action also allows for the development of characters, setting up the journey they undertake, and the suspenseful events that lead to the pivotal moments of the story.