Tell A Good Story

Greek philosopher Aristole divided drama into three parts: a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Gustav Freytag's Pyramiddivided Greek and Shakespearean theater into five parts or 'acts'.


Exposition: all the background information that is needed to understand the story properly is provided. Such information includes the protagonist, the antagonist, the basic conflict, the setting.

Rising Action:the basic conflict is complicated by the introduction of related secondary conflicts, including various obstacles that frustrate the protagonist's attempt to reach their goal.

Climax (turning point):marks a change, for the better or the worse, for the protagonist's . If the story is a comedy, things will have gone badly for the protagonist up to this point; now, the tide, so to speak, will turn, and things will begin to go well for him or her. If the story is a tragedy, the opposite state of affairs will ensue, with things going from good to bad for the protagonist.

Falling Action: conflict between the protagonist and antagonist unravels, with the protagonist winning or losing against the antagonist.

Denoumment (Resolution):comedy ends with a dénouement (a conclusion) in which the protagonist is better off than at the story's outset. The tragedy ends with a catastrophe in which the protagonist is worse off than at the beginning of the narrative.