The StoryThe Story

Neoaristotelian analysisNeoaristotelian analysis

Based on Based on Aristotle’s work Aristotle’s work Ars PoeticaArs Poetica

Outlines how Outlines how stories are put stories are put togethertogether

Stories contain six elements:Stories contain six elements: ActionAction CharacterCharacter ThoughtThought DictionDiction Music Music SpectacleSpectacle

Action – what happensAction – what happens

Starts with an expositionStarts with an exposition What you need to know to understand What you need to know to understand

what followswhat follows Establishes an equilibrium or status quoEstablishes an equilibrium or status quo

The problemThe problem Something happens to upset the status Something happens to upset the status

quoquo Everything in the story is aimed at Everything in the story is aimed at

solving the problemsolving the problem

CrisisCrisis A point at which the protagonist thinks A point at which the protagonist thinks

he/she knows enough about the problem to he/she knows enough about the problem to solve itsolve it

The solution is appliedThe solution is applied It’s the wrong answer, creating aIt’s the wrong answer, creating a

ComplicationComplication An obstacle to solving the problem, either An obstacle to solving the problem, either

because the wrong solution made it worse, because the wrong solution made it worse, or something new is addedor something new is added

Any story longer than 15 seconds has Any story longer than 15 seconds has multiple crises and complicationsmultiple crises and complications

Climax – the ultimate crisisClimax – the ultimate crisis The protagonist has finally learned The protagonist has finally learned

enough about the problem through the enough about the problem through the crises and complications to solve the crises and complications to solve the problem and applies that solutionproblem and applies that solution

DenouementDenouement A final part of the action that may or not A final part of the action that may or not

be necessary. It shows that the problem be necessary. It shows that the problem has been solved and there are no more has been solved and there are no more problems – we’re back at an equilibrium.problems – we’re back at an equilibrium.

CharacterCharacter

The agents that carry out the actionThe agents that carry out the action Two words are vital to story telling, Two words are vital to story telling,

and it the characters that do themand it the characters that do them WantWant

Every character must want something, Every character must want something, and every character wants something and every character wants something different.different.

E.g., the villain E.g., the villain wantswants to take over the to take over the world, and the hero world, and the hero wantswants to prevent that to prevent that

ConflictConflict Since every character wants something Since every character wants something

different, this creates conflictdifferent, this creates conflict Without conflict there is no storyWithout conflict there is no story

The problem starts the conflictThe problem starts the conflict The climax is the resolution of the The climax is the resolution of the

problem, and thus ends the conflictproblem, and thus ends the conflict When the conflict is over, so’s the When the conflict is over, so’s the

storystory

ThoughtThought

Why the story is being toldWhy the story is being told To affect the audience’s sense of what To affect the audience’s sense of what

the world is and their role in the worldthe world is and their role in the world Can follow the rules of societyCan follow the rules of society Can define the rules of societyCan define the rules of society Can create the rules of societyCan create the rules of society

Diction / Music / Diction / Music / SpectacleSpectacle

How the story is toldHow the story is told Diction = the words used and how Diction = the words used and how

they’re saidthey’re said Music = what we hear, including music Music = what we hear, including music

and sound effectsand sound effects Spectacle = what we see, including Spectacle = what we see, including

setting, lighting, costumes, make-up, setting, lighting, costumes, make-up, relationships, angles, etc.relationships, angles, etc.

Why is this Why is this important?important?

Humans aren’t really Humans aren’t really homo sapiens (wise man) homo sapiens (wise man)

but but pan narranspan narrans

(the story telling chimp)(the story telling chimp)

HeruHeru

SeleneSelene

LunaLuna

George WashingtonGeorge Washington

James WattJames Watt

Thomas Newcomen’s Thomas Newcomen’s engineengine

Hero of AlexandriaHero of Alexandria

GoldilocksGoldilocks

SocietiesSocieties

TribalTribal ““This is the way we’ve always done it.”This is the way we’ve always done it.”

BarbarianBarbarian Personal; heroes vs. villainsPersonal; heroes vs. villains

CivilizedCivilized Learn from mistakes and progress to Learn from mistakes and progress to

higher levelshigher levels