Gustav Freytag, a German playwright and critic, recognized that all of Shakespeare’s tragedies have six distinct structural elements:
EXPOSITION: the mood and conditions existing at the beginning of the play; the time and place
(setting) will be identified as well as the main characters and their positions, circumstances, and relationships to one another
EXCITING FORCE: the complication or initial incident; the exciting force “gets things going”, thus beginning the conflict which will continue throughout the play
RISING ACTION: the series of events that lead up to the climax of the play; events that provide a progressive intensity and complicate the conflict
CLIMAX: the turning point of the pay; a crucial event takes place and from this point forward the tragic hero moves toward his inevitable end
FALLING ACTION: the events occurring from the time of the climax to the time of the hero’s death; advances and declines in the various forces acting upon the main character
CATASTROPHE: the necessary consequences of the hero’s actions with result in his death; conclusions in Shakespeare’s tragedies are comparatively simple and brief

STRUCTURAL ELEMENT MAIN EVENT(S)
1. EXPOSITION 1.1
1.2
Witches appear in a storm
Macbeth defeats Duncan’s enemies
2. EXCITING FORCE
3. RISING ACTION
4. CLIMAX
5. FALLING ACTION
6. CATASTROPHE
1.3
Prophecies of the witches;
Macbeth named Cawdor
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
3.1
3.2
Malcom named successor
Lady Macbeth receives news
Duncan comes to visit
Macbeth decides to kill Duncan
Banquo suspects; floating dagger
Murder of Duncan; guilt
Porter scene; the murder is discovered
Macbeth is crowned
Murderers commissioned
Division between the Macbeths
3.3
Murder of Banquo; Fleance escapes
3.4
3.5
3.6
4.1
4.2
4.3
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
Banquo’s ghost appears
Hecate plans Macbeth’s ruin
Macduff goes to England
Three apparitions make predictions
Macduff’s family butchered
Malcolm tests Macduff
Lady Macbeth walks in her sleep
Military preparations made
Preparation for war continues
Birnam Wood moves
Lady Macbeth dies
The battle begins
Macbeth and Macduff meet
5.8
Death of Macbeth; Malcolm is restored