Structure

Gustav Freytag analyzed the structure of ancient Greek and Shakespearean plays, dividing them into five acts:

the exposition, which provides background information such as the identities of the protagonist, the antagonist, and other supporting characters, the setting, and the basic conflict;

the rising action, which, set into motion by an inciting incident, complicates the basic conflict;

a turning point, or climax, which reverses the direction of the plot so that the story ultimately becomes either a comedy or a tragedy;

the falling action, which unravels the conflict and may or may not end in a moment of final suspense during which the story's outcome becomes a matter of doubt;

and either a resolution, or denouement (comedy) or a catastrophe (tragedy).

Let’s think about a story we all know: A Christmas Carol Can you identify the stages / acts in that story? Work together to sketch out the 5 acts (and what the inciting incident might be).

We start with a protagonist in context We start with a protagonist in context. Scrooge is grumpy as his clerk leaves for Christmas Eve to spend time with his family. “A poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket every twenty-fifth of December!” (Exposition) An incident ends the exposition and starts the story – the appearance of Scrooge’s dead partner, Marley. (Inciting incident) The incident creates a chain of events in which the character encounters conflict and obstacles – the other ghostly visits. (Rising Action) Ultimately, an event occurs that turns the tide so that things can reverse themselves: Scrooge sees his own tombstone after hearing what his survivors say about him. He realises he wants to avoid his fate. (Climax) The protagonist then embarks on another course of action to accomplish what he now sees as his goal. Scrooge laughs, praises a stranger, buys food for Tiny Tim and raises Bob Cratchit’s salary. (Falling action) The character has arrived at his outcome: Scrooge’s joyous attendance at his family’s Christmas dinner. “ . . . and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father. “ (Resolution or Dénouement)

Freytag’s pyramid

Climax and resolution Major crisis Failed attempts Complications Slightly longer (more modern) version . . . Climax and resolution Major crisis Failed attempts Complications Initial struggle Problem or attack Chuck Wendig Intro

Rainbow Tales

Conventional narrative structure Chronological Has a beginning, a middle and an end Works well when following a single hero on a journey One point of view First- or third-person narratives Example: Tess of the d’Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy) – third person narrative , chronological events

Six alternatives (parallel narrative) 1. Tandem narrative: equally-weighted stories running simultaneously. 2. Multiple protagonist: usually either missions, reunions or physical or emotional sieges. e.g. Stories about families (emotional sieges!) 3. Double journeys: 2 equally important protagonists journeying either towards, apart from or in parallel with each other. 4. Flashback: many different kinds/purposes 5. Consecutive stories: equally weighted, self-contained stories following one after the other, joined together at the end. 6. Fractured tandem: equally-weighted stories, often in different time frames, fracture and truncated and put together again in such a way as to spread jeopardy and suspense throughout.

Some examples: Trainspotting (Irvine Welsh) – multiple protagonists and points of view Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino) – three separate stories that link at the end Lord of the Rings (JRR Tolkien) – parallel journeys / range of protagonists The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood) – flashbacks, different perspectives Life After Life (Kate Atkinson) – multiple time frames, one main protagonist Various crime fiction –third person narrative from the point of view of the police, interspersed with first person narratives from the point of view of the perpetrator of the crimes

What structure do you think best suits the story you have planned this evening?