Gustav Freytag

Gustav Freytag was a 19th-century German novelist and literary critic known for analyzing storytelling structures. He identified a pattern in many stories called "Freytag's Pyramid," which outlines five key parts: exposition (introduction), rising action (building tension), climax (peak of the story), falling action (resolving conflicts), and denouement (conclusion). This structure helps writers craft compelling narratives by guiding how the story unfolds to maintain audience interest and emotional engagement. Freytag's analysis remains influential in understanding how stories are effectively organized across various forms of literature and drama.