Ms. Jordan1 8 th -Grade Reading Ms. Jordan

Ms. Jordan2 Gustav Freytag said … Every good story can be divided into parts and drawn into the shape of a pyramid. Contents

Ms. Jordan3 Rising Action Resolution Climax Falling Action Notice the basic parts to Freytag’s pyramid. Contents Exposition

Ms. Jordan4 The climax doesn’t occur halfway through the play. If it did, the last half would be really, really boring. So the drawing shouldn’t really be shaped like a pyramid. Like this … If so, we’d have a very sleepy audience! Contents

Ms. Jordan5 Most stories, and certainly interesting ones, are shaped more like this … Contents

Exposition!!? This is the part of the story at the very beginning. It’s where the main character and basic conflict is introduced. Ask yourself: What’s a story you know with a great hook at the beginning? That’s the exposition! Contents

What is Rising Action? The longest part of the story from the beginning to the climax. Example… Red Riding Hood walks through the woods, the wolf follows her, she enters Grandma’s house, sees “Grandma” in her room, and comments on Grandma’s large facial features. Ask yourself: Why do you think it’s called “rising” action? Contents

What is the Climax/Turning Point? It’s the most exciting moment of the play. Example… Red Riding Hood says, “Why, Grandma, what big teeth you have,” and then she hears, “The better to eat you with, my dear.” The wolf jumps out at poor Red Riding Hood and the wood smith runs to help. Ask yourself: If the climax occurred early on or halfway through a movie, would you stick around to watch the rest? Contents

What is Falling Action? This is what occurs after the climax and leads to the conclusion of the play. Ask yourself: Ask yourself: Why do you think it’s called “falling” action? Example… The wolf spits out an upset Grandma and the wood smith relocates the wolf to a different part of the woods. Contents

What is the Resolution … The resolution is how the plot is concluded – how it all ends. Example … Really bad things happen to the wolf and Red learns a lesson. Then she, Grandma, and Mom live “happily ever after.” Ask yourself: Ask yourself: Have you seen a movie without a resolution? Contents

Ms. Jordan11 Day-noo-WHAT??? It’s a French word pronounced “day-noo-mah” Why are we speaking French? Because “denouement” and “resolution” are used interchangeably.

Ms. Jordan12 Denouement This is actually everything that happens AFTER the climax of the story. The literal translation from French is “unknotting.” So think of the story up to the climax as character’s problems in a “knot,” then the climax occurs and everything else is “unknotting.” Resolution The resolution is how the conflict is solved.

Ms. Jordan13 Q: Q: Which occurs first the rising action or the falling action? A: A: The rising action. Q: Q: Is Freytag a dancing frog? A: A: Of course not, he’s a German playwright famous for …. Contents

Ms. Jordan14 Q: Q: The most exciting part of the story is called … ? A: A: The climax or turning point. Q: Q: How would you describe the actual shape of a story containing these elements? A: A: A lopsided pyramid, highest point on the far right. Contents

Ms. Jordan15 Q: Q: Identify the parts of the pyramid. A: A: Exposition, rising action, climax/turning point, falling action, and resolution or denouement. Q: Q: Do the elements work with movies & books too? A: A: Of course. Contents

Ms. Jordan16 So the next time you see a play, a movie or read a story, draw the plot into a lopsided pyramid! Happy resolutions to you! Contents