Dramatic Structure

Three-act structure

In his discussion of tragedy, Aristotle (384-322 BCE) identified the ideal structure and plot of a good play. According to Aristotle, the plot should follow the basic structure and have a beginning, middle, and end. This is called the three-act structure. There should be a plausible reason (known as the tragic flaw) that contributes to the downfall of the hero. The ultimate goal of a tragedy is to invoke fear and pity in the audience, leading to catharsis.

Dramatic structure: key terms

Before we delve further into dramatic structure, it's a good idea to familiarise some of the terms associated with it.

• Plot

The order or sequence in which the events in a story or play take place.

• Exposition

Background information and back stories that the audience needs to know in order to understand the plot.

• Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition is the technique of placing two or more contrasting elements in opposition to one another.

• Objective

The goal or the desired ending that the characters strive for.

• Conflict

Conflict refers to either the tension between two opposing elements or characters in the novel or the roadblocks that stand in their way.

• Obstacle

The trials and problems characters go through to achieve their objective.

Dramatic structure: types

Let's take a look at the different types of dramatic structure.

Five parts of dramatic structure

Nineteenth-century playwright and novelist Gustav Freytag (1816-1895) proposed the five-part model that is widely used today. Freytag's model divided the dramatic structure into five basic units or stages. To understand the concept of dramatic structure better, let's take a look at the elements of the structure.

Exposition or introduction

As the name suggests, the introduction is the beginning where the context and the background are set up. This is where readers or the audience are introduced to the characters and receive important information about what is to come later. The introduction usually contains an instigation or an event that sets the plot in motion.

Rising action

At this stage, suspense is created following the incident that took place in the introduction. The characters behave or act in a way that sets the stage for the climax. Elements and theatrics that add suspense are used here to create tension.

Climax

Unlike in popular terminology, 'climax' in Freytag's model does not mean 'the end'. Instead, it refers to the turning point in the narrative. It is the stage between the events leading up to the peak of tension and the events that eventually lead to the end of the story. The turning point, or as we like to call it, the 'plot twist', is when something is revealed that changes the course of the story. Depending on the theme and genre of the text, this change may be for the better or for the worse.

Falling action

The fall or the falling action is what comes after the climax. We can call this stage a kind of unravelling where the build-up of conflicts and tensions plays out. At this stage, the reader or the audience might get a sense of where the story is headed.

Resolution or dénouement

Also known as catastrophe or revelation, this is the final stage in a text or play. It is the conclusion where everything is laid open for the audience.

The U-shaped model

The Canadian literary critic Northrop Frye (1912-1991) proposed an alternate model in his comparison between the Bible and literature. There are two dramatic structures in his model: a U-shaped structure, which is the shape of the comedy and an inverted U-shaped structure, which is the shape of the tragedy.

Frye developed this model in the series of lectures he gave at the University of Toronto called 'the Bible and Literature'. In the U-shaped model, the plot begins in a state of happiness and joy, which is unsettled by misfortune, and the plot eventually rises back to happiness. In the inverted U-shaped structure, the opposite happens, starting at the top and falling to the lowest point of the curve due to adversity.

Other types

While Freytag's pyramid is a good model of dramatic structure, it is not necessary that every text and play comply with it. With the rise of experimentation and innovation in literature, more and more writers are keen to explore the boundaries of text and performance. There are different structures that vary in different aspects, such as time, space, and style of narration. Some dramatic structures follow a non-linear narrative by using flashbacks and flash-forwards. Other types of dramatic structures include:

Climactic

These are some of the characteristics of the climactic structure:

• The plot begins later in the story rather than at the start.
• A limited number of acts, characters, and settings.
• Tightly constructed plot with no superfluous details.
• A definite and linear chain of events that leads to the climax.

Episodic

• The plot begins at the start of the story.
• The story expands with the addition of more and more characters and locations.
• A mix of short and long scenes in plays.
• Possibility for subplots and parallel plots.

Cyclical or serial

The cyclical or serial structure forms a circle of events where the plot begins and ends at the same place. It follows a sequence of events centred around a singular theme or issue. It creates the effect of coming full circle. Repetitions and patterns are features of cyclical narratives.

Avant-Garde theatre

Avant-garde theatre, like avant-gardism in visual arts, preferred experimentation over tradition.

Avant-garde artists believed that the traditions of the past were not relevant to modern society. Naturally, avant-garde theatre is known for its departures from the old theatrical traditions. They broke away from the old conventions by using non-verbal gestures, tableaux, and improvisation on stage.

Avant-garde theatre also experimented with the limits of the stage and performance, by using different techniques to influence and interact with the audience.

Theatre of the absurd

The name theatre of the absurd was given by the critic Martin Esslin to the twentieth-century plays in which themes of existentialism and the absurd were the dominant themes. The plays are notable for their lack of definable structure and plot.

Dramatic structure: diagram

The diagram below is a visual representation of Freytag's model of dramatic structure.

Fig. 1 - Freytag's pyramid is a popular model of dramatic structure.

In this model, the plot begins with the introduction and rises with the build-up of tension and suspense until it peaks at the climax. This marks the turning point, beginning the descent towards the denouement, as either resolution or catastrophe.

Dramatic structure: examples

Let's have a look at some examples of the dramatic structures mentioned above.

• Episodic

• Climactic