Example: Simple Plot
Simple Plot and a Random Story Generator
explained by Ron Kurtus. In a typical plot, there is the protagonist--who is the hero or heroine of the story--and the antagonist or villain. There is also often a bystander or victim of the
villain.
Consider the following very simple plot:
- A person sees a villain do something bad to an innocent bystander. This is a problem, dilemma or conflict for the person.
- He or she tries to stop the villain, but the villain seems to escape. This is a point of tension, because of the possibility of failure.
- The protagonist then makes a valiant effort and catches the villain.
- The victim is grateful and rewards the protagonist.
By changing names, descriptions and actions, he creates a software program that generates variety of stories for this simple plot.
Example: Story Structure
Joseph Campbell's so-called "hero's journey" told by John Savage
is another common proposal as the "paradigmatic story structure." Campbell's theory has been expressed in a number of ways; here's one representative version:
- The hero is confronted with a challenge,
- rejects it,
- but then is forced (or allowed) to accept it.
- He travels on the road of trials,
- gathering powers and allies, and
- confronts evil only to be defeated.
- This leads to a dark night of the soul, after which
- the hero makes a leap of faith that allows him to
- confront evil again and be victorious.
- Finally, the student becomes the teacher.
Comment by Christopher Vera — September 3, 2007 @ 1:59 pm
I wonder what a story would look like where the “hero” in the hero’s journey is evil and must confront good…? We’ve seen stories with evil persons as the protagonist before, but I am not aware of any using the hero’s journey structure.
Also note that the protagonist is not necessarily a hero, just as an antagonist is not necessarily a villain.
Comment by John — February 22, 2008 @ 3:15 pm
You have to look at it metaphorically. The structure applies. Check out http://www.clickok.co.uk/index4.html