Freytag's Pyramid in Modern Storytelling: A Guide to Crafting Engaging Narratives

By Olivia Salter

In a world saturated with media, from blockbuster films to serialized streaming shows and short-form content, the power of a well-structured narrative remains unmatched. Freytag's Pyramid, a model for narrative structure initially developed by 19th-century German playwright and novelist Gustav Freytag, continues to be relevant in today’s storytelling. Despite the shift toward non-linear and experimental structures, Freytag's Pyramid offers timeless principles that can guide modern storytellers across genres and platforms.

Understanding Freytag's Pyramid: The Original Structure

Freytag’s Pyramid was initially designed to dissect the five-act structure of classical Greek and Shakespearean drama. This structure comprises five essential elements:

1. Exposition: Introduction of characters, setting, and primary conflict.
2. Rising Action: Development of tension as characters confront the conflict.
3. Climax: The story's peak, where tension is at its highest.
4. Falling Action: The consequences of the climax unfold, leading toward resolution.
5. Resolution (or Denouement): The conflict is resolved, and the story concludes.

This model has since become a foundation for narrative theory, yet its principles remain just as applicable to today’s stories as they did in Freytag’s time.

Reimagining Freytag’s Pyramid for Modern Media

1.  Exposition in a Digital World

Modern audiences expect quick immersion. Rather than lengthy setup, today’s exposition often demands immediate engagement. Think of a gripping opening scene in a film or a hook in the first few lines of a novel. This phase must establish enough context and curiosity to hold attention, delivering concise yet vivid imagery that instantly pulls the audience in.

2. Rising Action: Escalating Complexities and Stakes

In modern stories, the rising action is marked by twists, subplots, and increasingly complex stakes. With shorter attention spans and the rise of episodic content, stories often rely on rapid escalation to retain interest. Each scene in the rising action builds upon the last, layering tension as the characters face more formidable obstacles. This structure also benefits serialized storytelling, where each episode must contribute to the overarching conflict while standing alone as a cohesive unit.

3. Climax: Redefining the Peak

Today, the climax may manifest not as a single moment but as an intense sequence of events—a showdown, a revelation, or a dramatic choice. In the age of intricate narratives and morally ambiguous characters, climaxes are often nuanced, challenging audiences to think critically rather than offering clear-cut resolutions. For example, contemporary protagonists might experience an internal struggle or moral dilemma, reflecting the complexity of human experience.

4. Falling Action: The Aftermath

The falling action is where modern storytelling often diverges from classical structure. Many contemporary works blur this stage with the climax, maintaining high tension until the final moments. Yet this stage remains essential, as audiences need a moment to process the climax's impact and watch characters grapple with their choices. In series, the falling action also provides an opportunity to set up future conflicts, hinting at unresolved tensions for upcoming installments.

5. Resolution in the Age of Open Endings

Resolutions today are frequently ambiguous or open-ended, inviting audiences to speculate about what lies beyond the final page or frame. This departure from traditional closure reflects real-life uncertainty and appeals to viewers who appreciate stories that mirror the complexity of the world. However, whether closed or open-ended, the resolution should offer emotional payoff, giving audiences a sense of purpose or clarity from the journey.

Freytag’s Pyramid in Practice: Examples in Modern Media

In contemporary media, Freytag’s Pyramid is evident across genres. For instance, in a popular thriller series, a pilot episode might rapidly establish characters and setting (exposition), weave in subplots and suspense (rising action), and reach a shocking midseason climax. Each episode then builds on the ramifications of these turning points, maintaining tension until the season finale, which provides both resolution and hooks for the next season. By adapting Freytag’s Pyramid, such shows capture both suspense and emotional depth, creating a compelling viewer experience.

Similarly, novels like Gone Girl use a modified version of Freytag’s Pyramid. The exposition is a slow burn that leads to the rising action of Amy’s disappearance and Nick’s increasingly dubious behavior. The climax, the revelation of Amy’s deception, is as shocking as it is pivotal, leading to a falling action and resolution that leave readers questioning the characters' fates.

Why Freytag’s Pyramid Still Matters

Though narrative structures evolve, Freytag’s Pyramid remains a core model for crafting stories that resonate. Its framework offers storytellers a reliable approach to build, escalate, and resolve conflict—key elements for engaging audiences. For creators, whether crafting a web series, novel, or screenplay, Freytag’s Pyramid serves as both a foundation and a flexible tool that can adapt to the demands of modern storytelling. By understanding and reimagining this classic model, writers and creators can deliver narratives that captivate today’s audiences while honoring a timeless tradition of story structure.