Freytag’s Story Arc

Introduction to Basic Plots

7 Basic Plots

Epic and Epic Hero

The Hero’s Journey

Freytag’s Story Arc

Kurt Vonnegut Explains Drama

Time moves from left to right. Happiness from bottom to top.

Cinderella

Disaster Story Arc

Reality

7 Basic Plots

The Quest• An important and far off goal

• The hero will be met with obstacles and forces trying to stop him from achieving his goal.

7 Basic Plots

Voyage and Return• The hero is transported to another world and

then back again

• On this journey the protagonist learns things that give him a deeper understanding of himself and the world around him

7 Basic Plots

Rebirth• The protagonist is often cast under some dark

spell either instigated by himself or an outside force.

• The hero’s liberation can only be achieved through the actions of other good forces.

7 Basic Plots

Comedy• Comedy shows people to be worse than they are.

• The characters are thrown into a state of confusion and darkness.

• Resolution can only come when these constricting factors have been played out to their extremes.

7 Basic Plots

Tragedy• Comedy shows people to be greater than they are.

• The central character is an individual (usually of great status) unwittingly brings about his own downfall.

• This downfall is supposed to provoke feelings of pity and fear in the audience and end in a catharsis, a purging of emotion.

7 Basic Plots

Overcoming the Monster

• The hero/heroes must overcome a dark evil creature/person/entity that has exerted an evil destructive force over a place or its people.

7 Basic Plots

Rags to Riches• In this story type the hero very often gets quick

success which is swiftly taken away from him/her.

• In order for him/her to return to this “rich” state the protagonist must very often defeat a foe of some kind.

The Epic

Definition of Epic:• An extended narrative poem recounting

actions, travels, adventures, and heroic episodes.

• Often derived from ancient oral tradition

• Often written in high style and elevated language

Characteristics of the Epic

• The hero is larger than life, often the subject of legend or a national hero

• We see the hero as he is – the good, the bad, and the ugly.

• The hero has super-human strength

Characteristics of the Epic

• Setting is expansive, covering nations, the world, or the universe

• Episodes are fictional, but often depict events from history

• The gods and lesser divinities play an active role in the outcome of the actions

• Each event/episode relates in some way to the central themes

The Epic Hero(also called the Archetypal Hero)

• The archetypal hero appears in all religions, mythologies, and stories of the world.

• They can be seen as a metaphor for the human search of self-knowledge

• The epic hero shows us the path to our own consciousness through his actions.

The Traits of the Epic Hero

Unusual Circumstances of Birth– born into royalty or is in danger at birth– Marked by these circumstances as different and

destined for greatness.

• Luke w/ aunt and uncle• Simba born a prince• Moses put in basket• King Arthur in danger from Uther Pendragon’s rivals

The Traits of the Epic Hero

• Leaves Family and Lives With Others– Raised away from his people

• Luke w/ aunt and uncle• Simba w/ Timon and Pumba• King Arthur w/ Merlin• William Wallace with uncle• Moses w/ Pharaoh’s daughter

The Traits of the Epic Hero

• Traumatic Event– A hero’s life is changed forever

• Luke’s aunt and uncle’s death• Wallace’s wife is Killed• Arthur pulls the sword from the stone• Simba fights Nala• Yaweh appears to Moses

The Traits of the Epic Hero

• Special Weapon– Only the hero can wield his weapon

• Luke’s light saver• Arthur’s Excalibur• Moses’ staff• Wallace’s sword• Simba’s… claws?

The Traits of the Epic Hero

• Supernatural Help– Hero often has spiritual guidance

• Luke hears Obi Wan Kenobi• Arthur has Merlin• Yahweh guides Moses• Wallace dreams of his dead father• Simba sees Mufasa in the sky and has Rafiki help him

The Traits of the Epic Hero

• Proves Himself– Hero performs feats while on Quest

• Luke blows up Death Star leads rebellion• Arthur leads battles• Moses performs miracles• Simba contemplates hi slife• Wallace leads his men against British

The Traits of the Epic Hero

• Journey & Unhealable Wound– Hero descends into a hell-like underworld and

suffers wounding from his encounter with evil

– Symbolically goes where normal humans can’t and finds truth about himself

The Traits of the Epic Hero

• Atonement with Father– Hero either redeems father’s evil deeds or

reconciles with father over wrongs done by the hero.

The Traits of the Epic Hero

• Apotheosis– Elevation to divine status; deification– Hero is rewarded spiritually at the end of his life

The Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s Journey

• The Ordinary World• The Call to Adventure• Refusal of the Call (the Reluctant Hero)• Meeting the Mentor• Crossing the Threshold• Tests, Allies, and Enemies• Approach to the Inmost Cave

The Hero’s Journey

• The Supreme Ordeal (Death & Rebirth)• Reward (Seizing the Sword)• The Road Back• Resurrection• Return with the Elixir– The “elixir” is a treasure, knowledge, or lesson

that has the power to heal