Presentation about Story Structure given April 20, 2009 at Westminster College. This presentation discusses the intrinsic three act structure and uses The Shawshank Redemption to show how two overlapping three-act structures gives rise to a four-act structure.

1. Story Structure
Jeffrey Gold
April 20, 2009
1

2. Agenda
Act Structures
3 Act Structure
Case Study: The Shawshank Redemption
Real World Story Structures
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3. Act Structures
1 Act
2 Act
3 Act
4 Act
5 Act
3

4. Act Structures
1 Act
2 Act
3 Act
4 Act
5 Act
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5. 3 Act Structure
Act 1 Act II Act III
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6. 3 Act Structure
Beginning
Act 1 Act II Act III
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7. 3 Act Structure
Beginning Middle
Act 1 Act II Act III
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8. 3 Act Structure
Beginning Middle End
Act 1 Act II Act III
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9. 3 Act Structure
Beginning Middle End
Act 1 Act II Act III
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10. 3 Act Structure
"A whole is what has a beginning and middle and end."
Aristotle’s Poetics
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11. 3 Act Structure
Act 1 Act II Act III
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12. 3 Act Structure
Genre
Characters
Backstory
Frontstory
Time
Place
Act 1 Rules
Pacing
Tone
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13. 3 Act Structure
Drama
Genre
Romance
Characters
Comedy
Backstory
Action
Frontstory
Thriller
Time
Horror
Place
Act 1 Rules
Pacing
Tone
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14. 3 Act Structure
Genre
Characters Protagonist
Backstory Antagonist
Frontstory Mirror Character
Time Love Interest
Place
Act 1 Rules
Pacing
Tone
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15. 3 Act Structure
Genre
Characters
Backstory
Frontstory
Time
Place
Act 1 Rules
Pacing
Tone
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16. 3 Act Structure
Genre
Characters
Backstory
Frontstory
Time
Place
Act 1 Rules
Pacing
Tone
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17. 3 Act Structure
Genre
Characters
Backstory
Frontstory
Time
Place
Act 1 Rules
Pacing
Tone
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18. 3 Act Structure
Attempts & Failures
Moral Choices
Testing Protagonist
Act II
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19. 3 Act Structure
Dénouement
Tie Up Loose Ends
Act III
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20. 3 Act Structure
Act 1 Act II Act III
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21. 3 Act Structure
Gustav Freytag (1863)
Climax
Rising Falling
Action Action
Exposition Dénouement
Revelation/Catastrophe
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22. 3 Act Structure
Equilibrium 1 Rising Action Equilibrium II
Act 1 Act II Act III
Inciting Incident Story Climax
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23. 3 Act Structure
Mythical Hero
Going to the Mountain
Jack & Jill
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24. Case Study
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25. Case Study
Act 1 Act II Act III
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26. Case Study
A
1 II III
R
1 II III
C
1 II III IV
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27. Case Study
A
1 II III
R
1 II III
C
1 II III
27

28. Case Study
A
1 II III
B
1 II III
C
1 II III
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29. Case Study
A
1 II III
B
1 II III
C
1 II III
29

30. Case Study
A
1 II III
B
1 II III
C
1 II III
30

31. Case Study
A
1 II III
B
1 II III
C
1 II III
31

32. Case Study
A
1 II III
B
1 II III
C
1 II III
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33. Real World Story Structures
Source: Google Images
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34. Real World Story Structures
5 Stages of Grieving
Denial and Isolation
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance
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35. Real World Story Structures
Weathering Change
Coping in a Context of Pervasive Organizational Change
Resistive Behaviors
Sabotaging
Hiding Out
Biding Time
Illusioning
Deflecting
Bargaining
Acquiescing
By The Booking
Good Soldiering
Source: Michael Raffanti
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36. Real World Story Structures
12 Steps To Sell A Car
Meet & Greet
Act I
Fact Find (Make A Friend)
Sell From Stock
Walk-Around & Demo-Drive
Trade Evaluation & Test Drive
Relax Customer & Sell Dealership
Act II
Start Write-Up/Trial Close
Call Desk
Negotiation & Commitment To Buy
Manager Turn (Courtesy Bump)
Paperwork, Delivery, Log Efforts
Act III
Follow-Up & Referral Prospecting
Source: Larry H. Miller Toyota
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37. Thank You
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