Storytelling foundations

By Brett Oppegaard Washington State University Vancouver

Creative Media and Digital Culture 354.02 Digital Storytelling (Fall 2010)

What are the 6 elements of drama?

As defined by Aristotle in Poetics

Plot What happens in the play, arrangement of the incidents, with

beginning, middle and end

Characters Who carries out those actions, also symbolic, and

interwoven with the plot

Thought What those actions mean symbolically, the theme(s)

Diction How those characters express themselves, from language to
dialogue to delivery

Song More than just music, the rhythm and melody of speech as well Spectacle Visual support ... scenery, costumes, special effects

What are the 7 plots?

As defined by British literary critic Christopher Booker

Tragedy Flawed hero meets tragic end, MacBeth

Comedy Happy ending, romanticism, A Midsummer Night's Dream Overcoming a monster Toppling all-powerful evil, Frankenstein

Voyage and return Leaving home, returning changed. Alice in

Wonderland

The Quest Mission/mission accomplished, or not, Lord of the Rings Rags to Riches The Horatio Alger myth

Rebirth Central character is transformed, A Christmas Carol

Hemingway's 6-word story

For sale: baby shoes, never worn. Complication. Resolution.
All people have basic needs, such as food, water, shelter, love, companionship, etc., which leads to complications and endlessly interesting resolutions

What are the 45 master characters?

As defined by American screenwriter Victoria Lynn Schmidt

Female heroes / villains

Aphrodite Seductive muse / Femme fatale

Artemis Amazon / Gorgon Athena Father's daughter / Backstabber Demeter Nurturer / Overcontrolling mother Hera Matriarch / Scorned woman Hestia Mystic / Betrayer Isis Messiah / Destroyer Persephone Maiden / Troubled teen

What are the 45 master characters?

As defined by American screenwriter Victoria Lynn Schmidt

Male heroes / villains

Apollo Businessman / Traitor

Ares Protector / Gladiator Hades Recluse / Warlock Hermes Fool / Derelict Dionysus Woman's man / Seducer Osiris Messiah / Punisher Poseidon Artist / Abuser Zeus King / Dictator

What are the 45 master characters?

As defined by American screenwriter Victoria Lynn Schmidt

Supporting cast

Friends Magi, mentor, best friend, lover

Rivals Joker, jester, nemesis, investigator, pessimist, psychic Symbols Shadow, lost soul, double

Foundations
Protagonist

Antagonist
Setting Complication Passage of time / chronology

Denouement
Wolfe's four devices:

Point of view / scene by scene construction / dialogue / status life