 Stuart Jaffe
read all posts by Stuart JaffeWell, we’ve reached the end. Just a few loose threads to tie up and this long journey will conclude. From early on in this series, it has been asked of me to discuss how the monomyth compares with the 3-act structure. So, here it is:
The 3-act structure is a traditional story structure most often found in film. It has its origins in the stage but I prefer to think of it in film terms because theater also embraces 1-act, 2-acts, and when we get in the realm of Shakespeare 5-acts (indeed, there are even plays with more acts but they are more the oddity than the norm). But film, even those films that utilize the monomyth, loves the 3-act structure.
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Continue reading Writing Theory — The Monomyth Part 6
Stuart Jaffe
read all posts by Stuart JaffeWell, well, well. You all thought I was finished, did you? But, as I’m sure you’ve learned, in a good story the Hero go through a death and a rebirth! And so, my dear readers, this is not the end of this series. Not yet!
Today, we’re going to discuss the Archetypes. Archetypes are the basic character types that appear repeatedly in stories throughout history just as the Monomyth is the basic structure of stories. The most important thing to understand regarding archetypes is that each one is not a stiffly defined set of rules that a character must adhere to. Instead, think of archetypes more like a drawer full of character traits that can be pieced together to make a complete character.
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Continue reading Writing Theory — The Monomyth Part 5
Stuart Jaffe
read all posts by Stuart JaffeTime once again to delve into the Monomyth.
8. The Ordeal
Often stories have two climaxes. The second is the one we all recognize, it’s the one that comes near the end of the story, and we’ll get to that in a little bit. But many, many times, stories have an earlier climactic moment for the Hero. Joseph Campbell referred to this moment as the Ordeal, and Vogler clarifies by suggesting that we think of this moment not as a climax but as a crisis. There is a secret to this step that has resonated with audiences for centuries — all heroes must die in order to be reborn.
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Continue reading Writing Theory — The Monomyth Part 4
Stuart Jaffe
read all posts by Stuart JaffeHere we are again, and this time we’re going to explore what makes up the bulk of any story — the parts between the opening and the climax.
4. Meeting the Mentor
This is one of the most well-trodden parts of the monomyth, and therefore, one of the most problematic. The Mentor archetype is the knowledgeable character who will teach, train, or impart the hero with special skills or wisdom. This is the character who explains the rules to the hero (and thus, the reader). Oftentimes, the Mentor also gives the Hero a special item to help with the quest. This is Obi-Wan (gives light saber), Dumbledore (gives numerous objects including invisibility cloak), and Gandalf (um, something about a ring). And just listing those three names should show you where the problems may lie.
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Continue reading Writing Theory — The Monomyth Part 3
Stuart Jaffe
read all posts by Stuart JaffeLast week was the overview. This week we start attacking the various parts. A small note on the approach I’ll be taking — this is a blog, not a 500 page non-fiction book. My purpose with this series of posts is to give you a basic understanding of the monomyth. If this stuff interests you, I highly recommend reading some of the books out there on the subject. There you’ll find entire chapters devoted to each step, each archetype, and a whole lot more. However, while this is just a basic primer, feel free to ask questions about some of the deeper aspects of these steps and I’ll do my best to answer.
Okay. Let’s jump in. These first three are fairly straightforward.
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Continue reading Writing Theory — The Monomyth Part 2
Stuart Jaffe
read all posts by Stuart JaffeWhen you learn to play an instrument, you learn the proper way to hold the instrument and the proper way to make it produce sounds. You learn the scales and the work of others, all the while learning how to read music and the basics of how it works — key signatures, beat and rhythm, etc. In writing, we learn how to construct a story with plot, character, voice, and such. We learn (hopefully) basic grammar and spelling, and gain an understanding on how these tools interact. But in both arts, there is a deeper understanding to how it all works — theory.
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Continue reading Writing Theory — The Monomyth Part 1
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