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Freytag’s Pyramid: Structure Compelling Business Narratives

Helps communicators control emotional rhythm and attention over time.
Freytag’s Pyramid: Structure Compelling Business Narratives
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Freytag’s Pyramid

A classic narrative arc to control emotional rhythm and attention in business storytelling.

Goal
Structure presentations so the audience stays engaged from setup to payoff.
Best For
Project Narratives, Leadership Speeches, Change Communication.
Storytelling Presentation Communication

Why This Matters

Many stories fail not because the idea is weak, but because the structure is flat.

In business communication, presentations often start too slow, peak too late, or end without resolution. As a result, audiences lose attention, miss the key point, or forget what mattered most.

Freytag’s Pyramid solves this by giving you a clear narrative arc that builds tension, delivers impact, and lands with clarity.

What is Freytag’s Pyramid

Freytag’s Pyramid is a classic storytelling structure developed by German novelist and playwright Gustav Freytag.

It breaks a story into seven stages that move from setup to tension, reach a peak, and then resolve cleanly. While it originated in dramatic literature, it is widely used today in storytelling, presentations, speeches, and brand narratives.

Freytag's Pyramid diagram mapping the 7 stages of dramatic structure against time and tension

The model helps communicators control emotional rhythm and attention over time.

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