As a result, the pyramid is less applicable to non-tragic narratives in which the protagonist usually wins out in some way, or when writing more upbeat genres like comedy.
It identifies story elements that are common to classical and Shakespearean tragedies, including a revelation or plot twist that changes everything - resulting in catastrophe for the hero. Make no mistake: Freytag’s pyramid is not a one-size-fits-all structure. Writing tragedy? Check out Reedsy's guide to the ultimate heartbreaking story structure, Freytag's pyramid ✍️Ĭlick to tweet! What is Freytag’s Pyramid?įreytag was interested in classical Greek tragedy and Shakespearean drama, and devised his pyramid by observing their structural patterns.
