SAMPLE PROFILE+FREYTAG’s TRIANGLE: plot/conflict/action for: Generic mismatch love story
THE MAIN ARC/ THE ‘A’ STORY :
Advances plot for the entire story
THE SUBPLOT/THE ‘B’ STORY: feeds main story: side
story, characterization, & development of supporting plot
FREYTAG’s TRIANGLE:
Freytag’s Triangle: parts of modern story (short story, novel, etc)
1) Setting/exposition, 2)Rising Action, 3)Conflict, 4)Crisis, 5)Climax, 6)Falling Action, 7)Denoument/ “The Recognition”, 8)Resolution
1.Setting/exposition: the setup,
the basic information,
what is unfolding at the beginning of the story,
earliest relationship between characters and the world,
introduction to the plot and/or characters
2. RISING ACTION: unfolds/introduces the problems and complications between the “wants” and “gets” of the characters
3. CONFLICT: the confrontation of the major opposing forces
4. CRISIS: the
emotional
5. CLIMAX: a major crisis at a possible end: the point at which the direction of the story’s main characters main “wants” will either turn to/result in “getting what they want”, fail, change, stalemate, be redefined, clarified/better understanding of self, or restarted/try again.
6. FALLING ACTION: specific individual details of the main characters’ “gets” being resolved as achieved wants, as failures to get, changes in priorities or understandings, unraveled beliefs, changes in want, better understanding, or back to starting point.
7) Denoument/ “The recognition”/ / “when suddenly” twist : Apparent resolution is recognized or a final discovery is made: maybe its the real resolution, maybe what the main character “wanted” wasn’t really what he/she “wanted”, apparent resolution could be a fake out (“then suddenly…”), or an alternative get becomes a better or acceptable answer to the main want
8) Resolution: Loose ends tied up: ultimately action/ main characters’ “wants” fail, or succeed, have a chance, end somewhere in between, or the “wants” change
SAMPLE FREYTAG etc:
Characterization:
Protagonist: “the boy”
Secondary significant major
character: “the girl”
Antagonist: “the
backstabber/jealous friend with ulterior motives”
Major Foils: the girl’s
friends, the boy’s friends
Plot: Love Story where boy is in love with a girl beyond
his reach that probably would not agree to date him (“Masterplan”,
“Valley Girl,” etc)
Main Action/High Concept/”the trailer”: boy tries several “plans” to attract the attention
of the girl he loves who doesn’t know him, faces problems and discouragement
from both his and the girl’s friends. He
continues to try in hope of at least getting a date
1)SETTING/EXPOSITION: the boy is poor, but clever and funny. The girl is upper class, sporty and smart,
and “expected” to date her social/economic class. [Specific Setting then describes how the boy and the girl
are defined by their different friends and cliques and interests, as well as
background and lifestyles].
2)RISING ACTION: boy sees her on the field and falls instantly in love, his friends
make fun of him and point out that she’s out of his reach. One of the boy’s female friends is actually
an envious backstabbing enemy, and noticing the boy’s wants, thinks up a plan
to help the boy to embarrass himself and the girl he
wants
3)MAJOR CONFLICTS: she has an existing boyfriend; she doesn’t know the
boy; social and economic class differences; the backstabber friend is setting
up the boy for public humiliation
4)CRISIS:
the boy has overcome class differences and the girl’s friends’ repulsion, and
manages to get an opportunity to catch the girl’s attention, but in a way that
the backstabber has set up to likely fail brutally, embarrassing the girl and
the boy
5)CLIMAX: the boy finally has an unopposed moment with the girl and confesses
his attraction to her
6)FALLING ACTION: Girl’s friends laugh at boy’s attempt, boy is
embarrassed and angry. She says if
things were different, she could like him, but “let’s just be friends” because
not only would it be hard to work out, but she has a boyfriend.
Backstabber friend says “see, she’s not worth it, she embarrassed you.”
Boy decides reluctantly to
give up his quest.
7)DENOUMENT/ “when suddenly” twist: Boy gives up on girl, professes hate and anger for
her kind, insults the girl brutally and calls her a _____________, when
suddenly….
8)RESOLUTION: Boy finds out about the backstabber friend and her plan. Not only was backstabber friend sabotaging
him, but she has been dating the girl’s boyfriend in secret. Boy confronts backstabber, reveals about the
backstabber to the girl who barely listens or believes the boy. Eventually girl finds out the truth, breaks
up with her boyfriend, and visits the boy.
Says thanks for revealing the two-timing, he tries to apologize and
make-up for his brutal insults, and Girl says she’ll think about a possible
date without promising. Scene fades, as
they part with smiles or decide to grab some food, joking how this is not a
date…..