FREYTAG’S PYRAMID

Reported By: Alton Obina

 Introduction to Freytag’s Pyramid
What is Freytag’s Pyramid?
Novelist Gustav Freytag developed this narrative
pyramid in the 19th century. Freytag’s Pyramid is a
five-part map of dramatic structure itself. Freytag’s
Pyramid describes the five key stages of a story,
offering a conceptual framework for writing a story
from start to finish. These stages are:
1.Exposition
2.Rising Action
3.Climax
4.Falling Action
5.Resolution
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 Freytag’s Pyramid In Diagram Form

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FREYTAG’S
PYRAMID: EXPOSITION

This part of the story primarily introduces the

major fictional element – the setting, characters,
style, etc. In the exposition, the writer’s sole
focus is on building the world in which the
story’s conflict happens.

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FREYTAG’S
PYRAMID: RISING ACTION
This rising action explores the story’s conflict up until
its climax. Often, things “get worse”. In rising action,
the reader often gains access to key pieces of
backstory. In rising action, the reader often gains
access to key pieces of backstory. As the conflict
unfolds, the reader should learn more about the
characters’ motives, the world of the story, the themes
being explored, and you may want to foreshadow the
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climax as well. presentation title 5
FREYTAG’S
PYRAMID: CLIMAX
The climax is the story’s conflict peaks and we learn the
fate of the main characters. A lot of writers enter the
climax of their story believing that it needs to be short,
fast, and action-packed. While some stories might
require this style of climax, there’s no strict formula
when it comes to climax writing. Think of the climax as
the “turning” point in the story – the central conflict is
addressed in a way that cannot be undone.
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FREYTAG’S
PYRAMID: FALLING ACTION
A story's falling action is the action that occurs
immediately after the big climax has taken place
and the action shifts towards resolution instead of
escalation. The action is now no longer rising,
instead it is now falling and taking us (the
viewer/reader) onwards to the end of the journey.

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FREYTAG’S
PYRAMID:
RESOLUTION/DENOUEMENT
The resolution of a story is the conclusion of a story's plot.
Also known as the denouement, the resolution is a literary
term for the final plot points that occur after a story's climax
and falling action.
Some writers also use the term “denouement” when
discussing the resolution. A denouement [day-new-mawn]
refers to the last event that ties up the story’s loose ends,
sometimes expressed in the story’s epilogue or closing
scene.
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 The fight at the hotel in town on the hottest day of summer is the turning
point in the novel. If things weren't going wrong already, they were about
to get worse. Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby get in a fight over Daisy's love. It
ends up with Daisy storming out of the hotel room and Gatsby not far
Nick meets hos neighbor Gatsby and
behind. Climax
becomes intrigued with his life ang
Daisy decide to drive home after
lifestyle. Nick hears many rumors
the fight because she thinks of will
about Gatsby at the party he attends
calm her nerves from the fight. On

Fa
at Gatsby's house. Wolfshiem is a io n
t

ll
c the way home from the city, Myrtle
heavy gambler, who fixed the World

ing
g A jumps out in front of the car,
Series; he was a father figure and a sin

Ac
i thinking Tom is driving and gets hit;
friend to Gatsby. Gatsby is also R
The Great

ti
Daisy does not stop and keeps

involved in an illegal drug business
Gatsby
EXPOSITION
The first couple pages of The Great Gatsby,
when the reader learns the background of
Nick, and learns how Nick came to live in the
summer house. Fitzgerald introduces Tom,
Daisy, and Jordan at the first party Nick goes
too.
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on
speeding down the road. Myrtle is
dead.
Resolutio
n to make sure Daisy is safe. Tom
Gatsby decides to wait outside Tom's house
and George are very frustrated and upset. George decides to take revenge, not
knowing the full story, while Tom decides to go out of town with Daisy,
Gatsby tells Nick why really happened, and that Daisy was actually driving,
but of course he would take the blame. George is furious and gets revenge by
killing Gatsby in his pool ang ultimately killing himself in shock of what he
just did.
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