Research Task 4.3 Story Structures 


BEGINNING

1.Statis - 'The normal world' or everyday scenario. Introduce the "everyday" scenario in which the story is set/ Introduce your character in their unsuspecting situation. 

My own example: Alice the main character in 'Alice in Wonderland' lives her everyday existence surrounded by society expectations and standards. She has dreams and faint memories of curious events that may/or may not have occurred once upon a time. However in the present "everyday" life that she lives, she is bored and restless. There must be more to life than this? 

2. Trigger - Provide a catalyst to start the story moving away away from what is normal and fine towards a problem (something which is often beyond control).  

Whilst running away from the problem of marriage, Alice spots a white rabbit in the garden. A rabbit that she seems to remember. Whilst chasing after this rabbit, Alice takes a tumble down the rabbit hole. She finds many doors, all are locked. She finds a key and a magic potion that reads 'DRINK ME'. Her adventures begin. 

3. Quest - Your trigger should result in a quest. This image should define the goal of the story and add some tension. 

The white rabbit checks his clock, seemingly so fearful of being late. Alice decides to help the white rabbit, with or without this permission. 

MIDDLE

4. A surprise - Introduce turns in the story which show the elements which might get in the way of the quest and your character's response. These could include pleasant events, obstacles, complications or trouble for your hero. 

Alice is reunited with the friends that she had long forgotten about - Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat. All of her old friends are scared of the Queen of Hearts. The setting remains challenging, from the sea of tears to the enormous size she grows to. 

5. A critical choice/reaction - The hero makes a crucial or critical decision about how they will respond. 

Alice attends a tea party with her friends. Her friends talk in riddles, that she does not understand. Alice becomes increasingly frustrated and leaves, call the event "The stupidest tea party I have ever been too". 

It is here though that she learns of pieces of crucial information. Time has punished Mad Hatter and tea time remains all of the time at 6pm. 

She leaves the tea party and faces more obstacles before finding herself acquainted with The Queen of Hearts. Alice is invited to play a game of croquet with the Queen where she meets many more curious animals and characters. 

6. The climax - This image should be a penultimate cliffhanger before we discover whether the quest has been a success. 

Alice finds herself as a witness at the trial of the Knave of Hearts, accused by The Queen of Heart of stealing all of the jam tarts. It is now that Alice starts to grow and grow. Alice needs to make a quick decision on how she will rectify her problem, choosing to stand her ground and protect all of her old friends from The Queen of Hearts. 

ENDING

7. The Reversal - The goals have changed (the hero has been changed by the experience) and has transformed. 

Now accused of stealing all of the Queen's tarts, the courtroom turns on Alice. The Queen of Hearts orders that Alice must lose her head, "Off with her head". Alice fights, arguing that the court proceedings are ridiculous. The atmosphere is tense as the Queen's cards surround Alice. However Alice is unafraid of how much she has grown and unafraid of The Queen of Hearts. 

8. The Resolution - A return to the new status quo/everyday scenario. 

Alice is woken from her dream.... However a new Alice awakes. Stronger and mightier that before. 

Consider the plot structure in your learning log: 

The structure is a foundation. It allows for an idea to be broken down into stages. 

During the writing process the story can then be built up in parts. This really helps focus the idea as well as adding length to the narrative. The process ensures that all parts of a well written story are met and the narrative remains structured. 

Nigel Watt's writes "If I sense a story is going wrong. I see if I've unwittingly missed out a stage of the eight point arc". It may not guarantee that you write a brilliant story, but it will help you avoid some of the pitfalls of a brilliant idea gone wrong". 

Watt's believes that every classic story passed through these stages. 

How might it be useful for getting more from your own drawings? 

This structure will allow for a backbone structure to work from. It will ensure that all parts of the story telling process are met and nothing is left out. 

It is a reference to help keep the narrative on track, without the loss of direction. 

It will highlight which points of a story are to be emphasised with a drawing and at which point of the story they apply - Beginning, middle or end. 

Can you find a story which already conforms to the structure? 

'Alice in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll (1865). I have written my notes beneath each point to better my understanding. 

Reference: 

Carroll, L (2009) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland , London : Penguin Classics

Watts, N. May, S. Daber, J  Get Started in Writing a Novel , London : John Murray Press .


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