An open book lies on a table.

Narrative structures in storytelling

The conflict of a story is only resolved at the end and the heroine or hero shows how the problem was solved. This can manifest itself in very different ways - with an epilogue, reconciliation or revenge. Sometimes the conflict is not resolved at all and we are left with an open ending, which usually points to the continuation of a story. But if we assume the norm of resolution, the storylines surrounding a conflict always follow a certain pattern. These patterns can be presented in different narrative styles.

The 7 archetypes

If we draw a comparison with the author Christopher Booker's work “The seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories”, we can recognize the classic chain of experiences of the heroine or protagonist in storytelling. There are 7 archetypes that serve to illustrate this:

  • From dishwasher to millionaire (founder stories, start-ups) 

  • David against Goliath (Apple/IBM, Pixar/Disney) 

  • Phoenix from the ashes (IBM) 

  • The Enigma (GE, Edison's search for the right metal to light up the light bulb), Indiana Jones 

  • The Journey (changes during the journey, Lord of the Rings) 

  • Tragedy (Romeo and Juliet) 

  • Comedy (viral videos use principle, brand story, humor, entertainment)

No matter which basic pattern you choose, the story should always begin with an interesting conflict; in other words, a starting point that shows wishes, desires and challenges that are resolved at the end of the story. Look around for opposites: If the head wants something different from the heart and if the past offers something that will not be suitable in the future. Ergo: When opposites meet, you are at the right starting point for a good story.

Structure of a story

Now that we have a reason, hero and conflict for our story, let's take a quick look at the structure of stories.  

Aristotle was the first to postulate a fairly clear structure for a story, defining it in terms of beginning, middle and end. In the middle of the 19th century, the German writer and literary scholar Gustav Freytag expanded the three-act structure to five acts. He added an ascending and descending plot to the structure. A pattern that many novels and films still use today. Anyone who goes to the cinema today will be very familiar with this structure.

  • Movie plots still follow Freytag's pattern

  • Modern stories no longer have just one climax, but several successive climaxes and a very short descending plot

Online videos, currently the most popular way of telling stories with moving images, follow an even more condensed pattern.

  • A good YouTube video reaches its first climax within two seconds 

  • This is followed by an emotional rollercoaster ride

  • Highlights alternate with rest phases in which the viewer can relax before the next climax is reached immediately

  • At the end, the viewer is rewarded for their perseverance with a surprising twist