The 3 act structure

The three Act structure

In my first narrative structure lesson we were looking at the three act structure.

The three act structure is the framework that all narratives and screenplays adhere to. Syd Field's book The screenwriter’s workbook proposes this theory.

The first act is basically the setup of location, time period, events and, most importantly the characters. The second act is known as confrontation, this is where a large portion of the action happens in the story. The third and final act is resolution; here is where the story reaches a solution and its end.

This is a detailed breakdown of the three act structure.

Act 1

Set up - what happens?

Exposition - introduces characters, interrelationships, places and time period.

Introduces main character, the dramatic premise and the dramatic situation

Main character - person who has a need or objectives to fulfil and whose actions drive the story

Dramatic premise - what the story is about

Dramatic situation - circumstances surrounding the action

Dramatic incident - an event that sets the plot of the film in motion - occurs approx. halfway through the first act

Act 2: Confrontation

Obstacles - preventing the character achieving what they need to achieve

First culmination - a point just before the halfway point in the film where the character is close to achieving their objective then it all falls apart, leading to the mid-point

Midpoint - a point where the character reaches their lowest point and seems farthest away from fulfilling their dramatic need or objective

Plot point 2 - the glimmer of hope that will seem to suggest the possibility that things will work out

Act 3 - resolution

Climax - second culmination is the point at which the two antagonising forces meet and force an outcome

Denouement - the brief period of calm at the end of the film where equilibrium is returned but slightly altered, or differently placed. The character has become a better person, the world has changed - the people have changed, for better or worse.

Tzvetan Todorov goes on to suggest that narratives can be divided into five plot points which are:

1.       A state of equilibrium is established at the outset.

2.       A disruption of the equilibrium is caused by an action.

3.       Recognition of the disruption.

4.       An attempt to repair the disruption.

5.       Equilibrium is reinstated.