The Three Act Structure

What is the 'Three Act Structure?' 

The ’Three Act Structure’ is a theory of narrative, developed by Todorov. He suggested that every story is split into three acts - the beginning, middle and end and into five different stages.

The first act is the beginning, which involves the introduction of characters/setting, exposition, an inciting incident that occurs leading to the protagonists journey. The first two stages are included in the beginning…

Stage 1 is when an equilibrium is established.

Stage 2 is when that established equilibrium is disrupted

The second act is the middle of the story, where there’s rising action, an attempt to solve the escalating problems usually ending in failure with minimal success due to the antagonist being at their most powerful or becoming their most powerful. This involves the third and fourth stage…

Stage 3 is the recognition of the disruption

Stage 4 is the attempt(s) to repair that disruption

The third and final act is when the story is most intense and at it’s climax. The problems are resolved and the antagonist is defeated.

Stage 5 is not only the resolution of the problem but the establishment of the new equilibrium.