Some stories explode. Others simmer.
But nearly all of them build to a point, turn, and come back down. That shape? It's been around since Shakespeare. And if you’ve ever felt lost in the middle of your draft, Freytag’s Pyramid might be the map you didn’t know you needed.
I used to think it was old-school filler from English class—until I started studying the structure of my favorite books and shows. The same shape showed up again and again.
Let’s break it down and see why this classic still slaps.
What Is Freytag’s Pyramid?
Think of it like a rollercoaster with five major parts:
It starts slow, cranks the tension to the top, then barrels down to an ending.
Freytag's Pyramid was developed by Gustav Freytag, a 19th-century German playwright and novelist. He studied ancient Greek tragedies and Shakespearean plays, noticing a repeating shape in how their stories unfolded. His 1863 book The Technique of the Drama laid out this five-part framework to help others understand what makes dramatic structure work.
Originally built for tragedy, it still fits everything from Pride and Prejudice to Cinderella to Breaking Bad.
Let’s go section by section.
Exposition: Where It All Begins
This is your setup.
You drop your audience into the world, introduce the main players, and hint at what’s to come.
You're not just naming names—you’re giving us the vibe. The rules. What’s normal here.
Example: In Romeo and Juliet, the exposition is the famous prologue: two feuding families, doomed lovers, and tension in Verona. Everything we need to feel the tragedy coming.
Your Job:
- Introduce your protagonist and antagonist
- Ground the audience in setting and tone
- Tease the core conflict
Rising Action: Add the Heat
Now the story starts climbing.
This section is where complications show up. Tension builds. Conflicts get worse. Stakes rise.
It's the longest part of the story—and the hardest to keep tight.
Example: In Pride and Prejudice, this is Elizabeth’s early judgments, Darcy’s social awkwardness, Bingley’s interest in Jane, and Mr. Collins being... Mr. Collins.
Hot tip: Use cause and effect. Make every scene push the next one. This is where your audience either leans in—or checks out.
Climax: The Point of No Return
This is the peak. The major shift.
Your protagonist faces their biggest challenge. Their decision here defines the story.
Example: In Cinderella, it’s midnight. She has to flee. The slipper is left behind. Game on.
Or in Romeo and Juliet, Romeo kills Tybalt. That’s the moment everything turns.
Why It Matters:
- This moment must be earned
- It should surprise the audience—but feel inevitable
Falling Action: Let It Unravel
This section shows the consequences of the climax.
Things either start to fall apart or fall into place. Either way, the momentum shifts from rising tension to resolution.
Example: In Les Misérables, this is Valjean's last acts of mercy and the final confrontations.
Don’t coast here. Keep choices sharp. Let characters deal with what they’ve caused.
Resolution: Land the Ending
Now you answer questions. Resolve arcs. Let your audience feel something.
Freytag called this the catastrophe in tragedies.
But in most stories, it’s where the emotional payoff lives.
Example: In Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth and Darcy finally get together after earning mutual respect. The theme clicks. The audience exhales.
[.ai-prompt]Use this AI prompt to help you out:
"Break down my story idea using Freytag's Pyramid. Give me one or two sentence summaries for each stage: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution."[.ai-prompt]
Why It Still Works (Even in Streaming Era)
Freytag wasn’t wrong. He was just early.
Every show you binge probably follows this arc—sometimes across a single episode, sometimes across an entire season.
The shape is flexible. You can apply it to:
- Short stories
- Novels
- Screenplays
- TTRPG arcs
- Comic issues
Structure gives freedom. Not fences.
Want to Map Your Story with a Visual Timeline?
If you're trying to plan your own story arc, use the Basic Plot Outliner template. It’s free and built in Notion—perfect for laying out story beats that follow Freytag’s flow.
Want something more complete? The Storyteller OS has an entire section built for visualizing structure like this alongside your characters, themes, and arcs.
Final Thoughts: The Pyramid's Not a Cage
Freytag’s Pyramid isn’t a rulebook. It’s a shape that mirrors how humans process tension and release.
Use it when you're stuck.
Break it if you want to.
But don’t ignore the emotional rhythm behind it.
Because even if your audience doesn’t know what it’s called, they’ll feel when it’s missing.
