Plot Structure

Using Freytag’s Pyramid

Plot Structure

Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows the causal arrangement of events and actions within a story.

It’s like the framework that the story is built around. The better the framework, the better the story.

Where does conflict fit?

• Plot structure is formed around conflict.

• Plot introduces the conflict, develops it, and finally resolves it.

Gustav Freytag

A nineteenth century German novelist, Freytag saw common patterns in the plots of stories and novels and developed a diagram (Freytag’s pyramid) to analyze them.

He diagrammed a story's plot using a pyramid like the one shown on the next slide.

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Freytag’s Pyramid

Freytag’s Pyramid uses a five-part system to describe a story’s plot.

This graphic organizer matches the way stories are constructed: The climax is the high point, and it’s surrounded by rising and falling action.

Modified Freytag Pyramid

Freytag’s Pyramid is often modified so that it extends slightly before and after the primary rising and falling action.

You might think of this part of the chart as similar to the warm-up and cool-down for the story.

Plot Structure Components

Exposition: setting the scene. The writer introduces the characters and setting, providing description and background.

Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crises in the story that lead to the turning point.

Turning Point (Climax): the place where the plot turns or “changes direction” because after this point, the story is moving towards resolution. It is the event that the rising action builds up to and that the falling action follows.

Falling Action: events that happen as a result of the climax as the conflict grows closer to being resolved.

Resolution/Denouement: the main conflict is solved or resolved.

Wait! Add two more parts!

We are going to include two additional parts to Freytag’s pyramid.

• Inciting incident – tied to the exposition, it is something happens to begin the action. A single event usually signals or causes the beginning of the main conflict. The inciting incident is sometimes called 'the complication'. On the pyramid, it is after exposition, before rising action.

• Denouement - (a French term, pronounced: day-noo-mon) the ending. At this point, any remaining secrets, questions or mysteries which remain after the resolution are solved by the characters or explained by the author. Sometimes the author leaves us to think about the THEME or future possibilities for the characters. It’s next to resolution on the pyramid.

Complete Pyramid