1. Today's Goal: Analyze the plot and dramatic structure of a play Theater Appreciation Tara Smith, NCVPS Instructor

2. Every story has a beginning, middle, and end.

3. Aristotle

4. Freytag’s Pyramid Freytag’s Pyramid uses a five-part system to describe a story’s plot.

5. Modified Freytag Pyramid Freytag’s Pyramid is often modified so that it extends slightly before and after the primary rising and falling action.

7. Exposition Introduction of characters and setting, providing description and background. The way things are before the action starts.

8. Inciting incident A single event usually signals the beginning of the main conflict. The inciting incident is sometimes called the complication.

9. Rising Action A series of events created by conflict, crisis, leading up to the climax.

10. Climax The moment of greatest tension in a story; the turning point.

11. Falling Action Events that occur as a result of the climax and to resolution.

12. Resolution The main character solves the main problem/conflict, or someone solves it for him or her.

13. Dénouement A French term, pronounced: day-noo-moh-- the ending . Secrets, questions or mysteries are solved by the characters or explained by the playwright.