Sunday, 20 October 2013

Voyage and return

Voyage and return

The voyage and return plot structure is prevalent in works of child fiction such as the Chronicles of Narnia and Alice in Wonderland. Stories like these feature a character that is transported to a strange and magical land, sometimes unintentionally who must protect the strange land from a threat. After the character's trouble, he or she returns back to their own world having learnt something valuable about themselves.

The voyage and return storyline plays out like this:

1.       Anticipation stage and the "fall" into the other world: We are introduced to the protagonist and his or her's dull average life. The main character is transported to a magical and unknown land, sometimes by no fault of their own.
2.       Initial fascination or dream state: Shortly after the protagonist's arrival he or she begins exploring the new surroundings and experiences significant changes compared to where the main character departed from such as changes in physics and logic. The character doesn't feel at home here.
3.       Frustration stage: This is when the antagonistic presence arrives and the wonder subsides, creating unease inside our hero.
4.       Nightmare stage: the evil force that arrived in the previous stage directory pursues the main character in full force. It seems that he or she is doomed.
5.       Thrilling escape and return: the hero is saved from the malevolent entity by their own devices or with help and is allowed to return home having learnt a valuable lesson.


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