Defining the 3 Act Format
Day 4-5: Story Structure
1) What makes a story different?
2) Analyzing the Structure - Friends sitcoms
3) Developing the 3 Act Structure
1) What makes a story different?
2) Analyzing the Structure - Friends sitcoms
3) Developing the 3 Act Structure
The Story
Download and read the following story: "The Lion" then answer the questions using a Google/Word document which can be uploaded to your classroom, before proceeding to Analyzing the Structure - Friends.
| lions.storystructure.docx |
Activity 1: Read the following alternative versions of the story, then using a blank Word or Google document, discuss whether you think they are better or worse than the original. Explain why.
Version a) The Slave (Protagonist) escapes, finds the cave, meets the Lion (Antagonist), removes the thorn and lives happily ever after in the cave with him.
Version b) The Protagonist escapes and meets the Antagonist, as in the original, but, upon returning to town his master tells him how much he's missed him and promises to me much kinder in the future.
Version c) Everything happens exactly as in the original except that the Antagonist mortally wounds the Protagonist in the arena.
Discuss the following points:
1) Who is the main character in the story? Why?
2) What is the difference between the main character at the beginning and the main character at the end?
3) What are different goals or aims that the main character has during the course of the story?
4) Does this story feel 'finished'? Why?
5) Does the story have a hidden message, what is it really 'about'? Have the characters learned anything?
Version a) The Slave (Protagonist) escapes, finds the cave, meets the Lion (Antagonist), removes the thorn and lives happily ever after in the cave with him.
Version b) The Protagonist escapes and meets the Antagonist, as in the original, but, upon returning to town his master tells him how much he's missed him and promises to me much kinder in the future.
Version c) Everything happens exactly as in the original except that the Antagonist mortally wounds the Protagonist in the arena.
Discuss the following points:
1) Who is the main character in the story? Why?
2) What is the difference between the main character at the beginning and the main character at the end?
3) What are different goals or aims that the main character has during the course of the story?
4) Does this story feel 'finished'? Why?
5) Does the story have a hidden message, what is it really 'about'? Have the characters learned anything?
Analyzing Structure
Like many recent sitcoms, Friends, demonstrates a highly condensed mode of story telling. In just 22 minutes of screen time, episodes contain three distinct stories, each of which reaches a resolution (the principle of a 3 act play)
There are three distinct stories in episodes of Friends:
A: The bullies
B: Monica's money
C: Phoebe's father
Watch the following scene from Friends:
There are three distinct stories in episodes of Friends:
A: The bullies
B: Monica's money
C: Phoebe's father
Watch the following scene from Friends:
Analyzing Friends:
The dinner party scene from Friends demonstrates the principles of a 3 act story:
Act I: set - up (waiting at restaurant for friends)
Act II: confrontation (refusal to move tables)
Act III: resolution (friends arrival)
The dinner party scene from Friends demonstrates the principles of a 3 act story:
Act I: set - up (waiting at restaurant for friends)
Act II: confrontation (refusal to move tables)
Act III: resolution (friends arrival)
Analysis and Structure:
1) Watch the following Friends episode :"Friends The One with Five Steaks".
2) Use a Google Document; name it "Analyzing.Friends"
3)Describe the set-up; the confrontation; and the resolution
4)What are the two key events or "plot points" that separate the acts? What causes the confrontation? What causes the resolution?
5) Share the completed document with the teacher using google classroom
1) Watch the following Friends episode :"Friends The One with Five Steaks".
2) Use a Google Document; name it "Analyzing.Friends"
3)Describe the set-up; the confrontation; and the resolution
4)What are the two key events or "plot points" that separate the acts? What causes the confrontation? What causes the resolution?
5) Share the completed document with the teacher using google classroom