Freytag’s Triangle: parts of modern story (short story, novel, etc) 1) Setting/exposition, 2)inciting incident, 3)Rising Action, 4)Climax, 5)Falling Action, 6)Resolution, 7)Denoument/ “The Recognition”/Catastrophe

Sample Freytag’s Triangle Phases:

	OPEN BOAT by Stephen Crane	LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY	VENDETTA By Maupaussant
1) SETTING/EXPOSITION: the setup, the starting scene/ situation or quick intro	Men are in a lifeboat after a shipwreck	Setting up history of 1^st war against Sauron/ innocence of hobbits	Brief setting: town and widow
2) INCITING INCIDENT: single incident that triggers the main conflict	Captain sees a light house	Ring identified by Gandalf	Son killed
3) RISING ACTION: unfolds/ intros complications, conflicts, & problems between the “wants” & “haves”/’done’ of the characters	Men try to row the boat to the shore	Running from enemies, forming fellowship, quests	Swear revenge, training the dog
4) CLIMAX: a)moment of greatest uncertainty, b)the emotional high point, c)the main test or greatest question	Men jump off the boat into the water as the boat overturns	Big battle while reaching Mount Doom lava pit with Gollum – time to throw in ring	Dog let loose
5) FALLING ACTIONS: ‘final’ actions as individual characters’ questions, conflicts & “wants” are being resolved	Men swim to shore	Post Battle, destruction of Sauron, Rescue of hobbits	Man fights dog, rolling around on the ground
6) RESOLUTION: Loose ends tied up, answers to main conflicts/ questions	Reporter, cook, captain rescued, but oiler drowned	Dark forces leave in disarray, Aragorn crowned king, hobbits honored	Dog kills man
7) DENOUMENT/ THE RECOGNITION/ OR CATASTROPHE: the aftermath of falling actions, a final discovery, thought or understanding	Body of oiler brought in, other three realize the power of sea and luck in surviving	Families, elves leaving, Frodo leaving as well on boats	People remember an old man (disguise); old woman can finally sleep