Ian Dawson's Blog - Posts Tagged "climax"
Writing Tip of the Week: Story Structure – The End
In today’s post, we’ve made it to that all-important piece of the puzzle that helps tie everything up in a nice, neat bow: The End of the story.
The Final Test
Your hero has been dealt a decisive blow as they enter the arena of the End. As they come out of the big Turning Point that jettisons them from the Middle, they may be ready to give up, give in, or just walk away.
But that can’t happen. If you’ve created an active protagonist, they aren’t going to go down without a fight. They’re going to give everything they have left to get to their goal, even if it kills them.
And that’s why…
Cop-Outs are NOT an Option
The main character may feel a sense of impending doom at this point. They may feel they have no options or choices left. They may feel they are all alone. But they can’t give up. They can’t just decide, “You know what? You were right, Joker. Gotham is yours.”
It’s not in a protagonist’s nature to stop while there’s still hope of winning and reaching their intended goal. This is still their fight, and even if they come out of it bruised, bloodied, and worse for wear, they will still have evolved as a character by the story’s end.
Win, Lose, or Draw
Ultimately, you get to decide what your hero’s fate is. They have three viable options:
• They can fight and win;
• They can fight and lose; or
• They can fight and decide along with the antagonist to settle their differences in a civilized manner.
This is the Climax of the story; the final battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil. Or the forces of “I want to be a writer” and the forces of “no, you’re gonna work on the family farm.”
Most superhero and action movies choose the Win (The Avengers, The Dark Knight, Hobbs & Shaw). Many dramas may opt for the hero to Lose, but still win in some respect (Gladiator, Dallas Buyers Club, American Beauty). But what about rom-coms or comedies?
These usually end in a Draw; where the hero wins, but their antagonist now supports them and wants them to succeed. Maybe they end up with the antagonist by the end of the story (You’ve Got Mail). Maybe their father decides that they shouldn’t be a coal miner and should design rockets instead (October Sky).
Often, we think in terms of “the antagonist must be destroyed,” but if you are writing something about real people, a family, a team, this probably won’t work. Think about how the hero’s actions can persuade the antagonist to their side plausibly and positively.
Bringing Everyone to the New Normal
Once the antagonist has been defeated and the hero has reached their goal, a New Normal has been achieved. They have what they were seeking - a job, a significant other, an education, the Holy Grail, etc. – and their life will never be the same.
Take the time to acknowledge this new status, even if for a brief moment. This is the point in the story when things are starting to wrap up. The adventure is over. Don’t drag your feet and make the audience stick around once their investment has paid off. Make sure they know what happened after the final showdown and how the characters are doing after, but make it brief.
The technical term for this moment of the story is Denouement.
The End of Legally Blonde
As we discussed two weeks ago, Elle found herself in a bad place with her professor sexually harassing her and her new friend Vivian witnessing the harassment. But, instead of being on Elle’s side, Vivian accuses her of sleeping with the professor to get the internship.
Now, Elle is ready to quit law school, give up on her goal, and hide. But, after a pep talk from one of her female professors (played by Holland Taylor), she decides that quitting is not an option.
Check out the clip here:
Legally Blonde Clip 1
She returns to the trial, regains her confidence, gets the accused to confess to the murder on the stand, and helps her team win the case.
Check out the clip here:
Legally Blonde Clip 2
As she goes to leave, her ex, Warner, tries to get back with her. She rebuffs him with a similar line he used to break up with her and walks away.
Check out the clip here:
Legally Blonde Clip 3
The final scene is of Elle giving an uplifting speech on graduation day.
Check out the clip here:
Legally Blonde Clip 4
She did it! She proved to herself and to others that she was capable of becoming a lawyer.
Notice that the Climax in this film is a verbal exchange between the hero and villain. No epic battle that destroys half of Harvard. It’s simple yet effective. Elle has evolved as a person, a person who has realized her own value and self-worth. And her final line to Warner and her graduation speech sum up how she has changed throughout the film.
It’s been quite a journey over the past five posts. We’ve explored all aspects of the Beginning, Middle, and End of a story. We’ve looked at Legally Blonde and seen how that story is crafted with these story elements in mind. And next time, I’ll share some final thoughts about story structure to wrap up this series.
Happy writing, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
The Final Test
Your hero has been dealt a decisive blow as they enter the arena of the End. As they come out of the big Turning Point that jettisons them from the Middle, they may be ready to give up, give in, or just walk away.
But that can’t happen. If you’ve created an active protagonist, they aren’t going to go down without a fight. They’re going to give everything they have left to get to their goal, even if it kills them.
And that’s why…
Cop-Outs are NOT an Option
The main character may feel a sense of impending doom at this point. They may feel they have no options or choices left. They may feel they are all alone. But they can’t give up. They can’t just decide, “You know what? You were right, Joker. Gotham is yours.”
It’s not in a protagonist’s nature to stop while there’s still hope of winning and reaching their intended goal. This is still their fight, and even if they come out of it bruised, bloodied, and worse for wear, they will still have evolved as a character by the story’s end.
Win, Lose, or Draw
Ultimately, you get to decide what your hero’s fate is. They have three viable options:
• They can fight and win;
• They can fight and lose; or
• They can fight and decide along with the antagonist to settle their differences in a civilized manner.
This is the Climax of the story; the final battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil. Or the forces of “I want to be a writer” and the forces of “no, you’re gonna work on the family farm.”
Most superhero and action movies choose the Win (The Avengers, The Dark Knight, Hobbs & Shaw). Many dramas may opt for the hero to Lose, but still win in some respect (Gladiator, Dallas Buyers Club, American Beauty). But what about rom-coms or comedies?
These usually end in a Draw; where the hero wins, but their antagonist now supports them and wants them to succeed. Maybe they end up with the antagonist by the end of the story (You’ve Got Mail). Maybe their father decides that they shouldn’t be a coal miner and should design rockets instead (October Sky).
Often, we think in terms of “the antagonist must be destroyed,” but if you are writing something about real people, a family, a team, this probably won’t work. Think about how the hero’s actions can persuade the antagonist to their side plausibly and positively.
Bringing Everyone to the New Normal
Once the antagonist has been defeated and the hero has reached their goal, a New Normal has been achieved. They have what they were seeking - a job, a significant other, an education, the Holy Grail, etc. – and their life will never be the same.
Take the time to acknowledge this new status, even if for a brief moment. This is the point in the story when things are starting to wrap up. The adventure is over. Don’t drag your feet and make the audience stick around once their investment has paid off. Make sure they know what happened after the final showdown and how the characters are doing after, but make it brief.
The technical term for this moment of the story is Denouement.
The End of Legally Blonde
As we discussed two weeks ago, Elle found herself in a bad place with her professor sexually harassing her and her new friend Vivian witnessing the harassment. But, instead of being on Elle’s side, Vivian accuses her of sleeping with the professor to get the internship.
Now, Elle is ready to quit law school, give up on her goal, and hide. But, after a pep talk from one of her female professors (played by Holland Taylor), she decides that quitting is not an option.
Check out the clip here:
Legally Blonde Clip 1
She returns to the trial, regains her confidence, gets the accused to confess to the murder on the stand, and helps her team win the case.
Check out the clip here:
Legally Blonde Clip 2
As she goes to leave, her ex, Warner, tries to get back with her. She rebuffs him with a similar line he used to break up with her and walks away.
Check out the clip here:
Legally Blonde Clip 3
The final scene is of Elle giving an uplifting speech on graduation day.
Check out the clip here:
Legally Blonde Clip 4
She did it! She proved to herself and to others that she was capable of becoming a lawyer.
Notice that the Climax in this film is a verbal exchange between the hero and villain. No epic battle that destroys half of Harvard. It’s simple yet effective. Elle has evolved as a person, a person who has realized her own value and self-worth. And her final line to Warner and her graduation speech sum up how she has changed throughout the film.
It’s been quite a journey over the past five posts. We’ve explored all aspects of the Beginning, Middle, and End of a story. We’ve looked at Legally Blonde and seen how that story is crafted with these story elements in mind. And next time, I’ll share some final thoughts about story structure to wrap up this series.
Happy writing, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
Writing Exercise of the Week: Watch Home Alone
In my last post, we discussed the plot elements of crafting a compelling story. These included utilizing the traditional three-act structure and its components to ensure the plot and main character are active and moving toward their intended goal.
The Assignment
I want you to watch Home Alone and see if you can identify the following plot elements as they happen involving Kevin:
ACT ONE
Inciting Incident: “a single event that either happens directly to the protagonist or is caused by the protagonist” (McKee 190).
Plot Point/Stunning Surprise 1: “the arrival of some event or dramatic reversal that creates a moment of shock for the Hero and drops the curtain on the first act – while immediately raising is again on the second act” (Edson 118).
ACT TWO
Mid-Point Sequence: “The Hero reaches a Point of No Return beyond which turning back is no longer an option…Conflict with the Adversary becomes deeply personal…A ‘ticking clock’ time limit is set in motion…An unmasking takes place, literally or figuratively, and an inner truth gets revealed” (Edson 219-220).
Plot Point/Stunning Surprise 2: “comes out of the blue and changes everything. It signals the end of Act Two and the beginning of Act Three…frequently the primary additional punch of Stunning Surprise #2 is that it completely destroys the Hero’s plan for victory and announces that sweeping improvisation will now be required for the Hero to have any chance of besting the Adversary” (Edson 129).
ACT THREE
Climax/Obligatory Scene: “third-act final showdown between Hero and Adversary that resolves the main plot question once and for all” (Edson 137).
Denouement: “wraps up the plot loose ends and relationships” (Edson 137).
Grab a piece of paper, and as you watch, list what you feel best fits each plot element. Remember: only Kevin’s actions and the plot elements related to him matter in this exercise since he is the main character.
Next Time…
In my next series of posts, we’ll explore these elements as they relate to Home Alone and see if what you picked is the same as what I chose.
Happy Viewing, and I’ll see you next time!
Sources:
Edson, Eric. The Story Solution. Michael Wiese Productions, 2011.
McKee, Robert. Story. Harper Collins, 1997.
The Assignment
I want you to watch Home Alone and see if you can identify the following plot elements as they happen involving Kevin:
ACT ONE
Inciting Incident: “a single event that either happens directly to the protagonist or is caused by the protagonist” (McKee 190).
Plot Point/Stunning Surprise 1: “the arrival of some event or dramatic reversal that creates a moment of shock for the Hero and drops the curtain on the first act – while immediately raising is again on the second act” (Edson 118).
ACT TWO
Mid-Point Sequence: “The Hero reaches a Point of No Return beyond which turning back is no longer an option…Conflict with the Adversary becomes deeply personal…A ‘ticking clock’ time limit is set in motion…An unmasking takes place, literally or figuratively, and an inner truth gets revealed” (Edson 219-220).
Plot Point/Stunning Surprise 2: “comes out of the blue and changes everything. It signals the end of Act Two and the beginning of Act Three…frequently the primary additional punch of Stunning Surprise #2 is that it completely destroys the Hero’s plan for victory and announces that sweeping improvisation will now be required for the Hero to have any chance of besting the Adversary” (Edson 129).
ACT THREE
Climax/Obligatory Scene: “third-act final showdown between Hero and Adversary that resolves the main plot question once and for all” (Edson 137).
Denouement: “wraps up the plot loose ends and relationships” (Edson 137).
Grab a piece of paper, and as you watch, list what you feel best fits each plot element. Remember: only Kevin’s actions and the plot elements related to him matter in this exercise since he is the main character.
Next Time…
In my next series of posts, we’ll explore these elements as they relate to Home Alone and see if what you picked is the same as what I chose.
Happy Viewing, and I’ll see you next time!
Sources:
Edson, Eric. The Story Solution. Michael Wiese Productions, 2011.
McKee, Robert. Story. Harper Collins, 1997.
Home Alone Plot Structure – Part Three
We have arrived at the final act of Home Alone. Act Three of any story is the shortest since the story is wrapping up, and the plot should arrive at a resolution.
In the last post, we left Kevin being surprised by Harry and Marv as he opened the basement door at his neighbor’s house.
Is it curtains for Kevin?
HOME ALONE - ACT THREE
An enraged Harry and Marv finally catch the devious 8-year-old who caused them so much trouble throughout the evening. The battle-scarred duo tells Kevin their plans to do to him what his traps did to them.
Unknown to them, their plans will never happen.
We’re entering what’s known as…
Climax/Obligatory Scene: “third-act final showdown between Hero and Adversary that resolves the main plot question once and for all” (Edson 137).
At 1:30:18, Marley arrives and knocks Marv and Harry unconscious with his snow shovel, then picks Kevin up and takes him home.
But wait. Isn’t the story's hero supposed to save the day and defeat the bad guys? Yes. Kevin wins the day since he has already called the police before escaping his house and running to the Murphy’s. It was lucky for Kevin that Marley arrived, but the cops would’ve shown up anyway and arrested Harry and Marv, which means Kevin’s actions resolved the story.
We watch from Kevin’s point of view as the Wet Bandits—spelled W-A-T by Marv – are arrested and driven away by the cops.
Now, there’s one more story thread to tie up, which brings us to the…
Denouement: “wraps up the plot loose ends and relationships” (Edson 137).
At 1:35:51, Kevin and his mom resolve their previous conflict and hug it out. Then, the rest of the family arrives home and is amazed by Kevin’s ability to survive independently. We get a nice emotional moment when Marley reunites with his family before Buzz yells, “Kevin! What did you do to my room?” and the movie ends.
It’s a tidy finale for all the chaos that’s transpired, and I’ve always wondered how long it took Kevin to clean and repair all the damage to the house.
Final Thoughts
As writers, it’s important to remember the importance of plot and plot elements that help keep the story moving and create conflict and drama for your hero. Kevin definitely drives the action in Home Alone, and his antagonists, Harry and Marv, get what they deserve by the story’s end.
What did you come up with for your plot elements for Home Alone? Were they similar to mine or different? Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.
Happy Holidays, and I’ll see you next time!
In the last post, we left Kevin being surprised by Harry and Marv as he opened the basement door at his neighbor’s house.
Is it curtains for Kevin?
HOME ALONE - ACT THREE
An enraged Harry and Marv finally catch the devious 8-year-old who caused them so much trouble throughout the evening. The battle-scarred duo tells Kevin their plans to do to him what his traps did to them.
Unknown to them, their plans will never happen.
We’re entering what’s known as…
Climax/Obligatory Scene: “third-act final showdown between Hero and Adversary that resolves the main plot question once and for all” (Edson 137).
At 1:30:18, Marley arrives and knocks Marv and Harry unconscious with his snow shovel, then picks Kevin up and takes him home.
But wait. Isn’t the story's hero supposed to save the day and defeat the bad guys? Yes. Kevin wins the day since he has already called the police before escaping his house and running to the Murphy’s. It was lucky for Kevin that Marley arrived, but the cops would’ve shown up anyway and arrested Harry and Marv, which means Kevin’s actions resolved the story.
We watch from Kevin’s point of view as the Wet Bandits—spelled W-A-T by Marv – are arrested and driven away by the cops.
Now, there’s one more story thread to tie up, which brings us to the…
Denouement: “wraps up the plot loose ends and relationships” (Edson 137).
At 1:35:51, Kevin and his mom resolve their previous conflict and hug it out. Then, the rest of the family arrives home and is amazed by Kevin’s ability to survive independently. We get a nice emotional moment when Marley reunites with his family before Buzz yells, “Kevin! What did you do to my room?” and the movie ends.
It’s a tidy finale for all the chaos that’s transpired, and I’ve always wondered how long it took Kevin to clean and repair all the damage to the house.
Final Thoughts
As writers, it’s important to remember the importance of plot and plot elements that help keep the story moving and create conflict and drama for your hero. Kevin definitely drives the action in Home Alone, and his antagonists, Harry and Marv, get what they deserve by the story’s end.
What did you come up with for your plot elements for Home Alone? Were they similar to mine or different? Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.
Happy Holidays, and I’ll see you next time!
