Gustav Freytag was a German novelist and playwright born on July 13, 1816, in Kreuzburg, Silesia. He is best known for his influential work in literary theory, particularly for his analysis of narrative structure. Freytag introduced the concept of the Freytag's Pyramid, which outlines the typical progression of a story, including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. In addition to his contributions to literary theory, Freytag wrote several novels, with his most famous being Debit and Credit (1856). He was also involved in politics and served as a member of the Reichstag, the German parliament, during the late 19th century. Freytag passed away on April 30, 1895.