Post by Applelight Limited on May 31, 2015 22:32:53 GMT
I'm recently been studying story telling through the monomyth, or Hero's Journey template. Here's another good article on it. I wouldn't try to dogmatically follow this template but it has been useful in helping to work out a direction in which to go when writing. And I started to wonder how much FIM follows this template. And the answer is, actually quite well.
Take the opening two parter. We have:
The Ordinary World: We are introduced to Twilight Sparkle, a recluse Unicorn who locks herself away in her studies in Canterlot. She has no time for anypony.
The Call To Adventure: External pressure. She deduces that Nightmare Moon is set to return, and the only thing that can stop her is the Elements Of Harmony.
Refusal Of The Call: Twilight does not believe making friends is important. Especially not now. The fate of Equestria does not rest on me making friends.
Meeting The Mentor: It could be said to be both Celestia (via her replying letter) and Spike. But in this example what it probably is is the 'mission' to go check out the preparations for the summer solstice celebration.
I'd also like to stop here to highlight how, although FIM is sorta following the monomyth template, it is not completely and rigidly abiding by it. Case in point, numbers 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 can be swapped around with each other, in the order of 2, 1, 4, 3.
Crossing The Threshold: In this case it can be only one thing; going to Ponyville.
Tests, Allies And Enemies: This would be Twilight meeting the rest of the mane six, seeing Celestia disappear, Nightmare Moon making an appearance, and finding the book about the Elements Of Harmony.
Approach: Going into the Everfree Forest together.
The Ordeal: This would be the five problems they encountered and overcame, along with the confrontation with Nightmare.
The Reward: Defeating Moon, returning Luna, and gaining the Elements, Twilight learning what it means to have friends, and Tia returning.
The Road Back: The return to Ponyville.
The Resurrection: Twilight is faced with the possibility of having to leave her friends again. But she stays with them, and is to study friendship.
Return With The Elixir: Twilight now lives in Ponyville, with access to the Elements, and beginning her studies of friendship.
So yeah, it's not a complete match, but it's pretty close. This is all probably pretty obvious, but since I'm trying to learn how to write again I think it helps to study it.
What it really tells me is that never mind external threats and villains. What a good story needs is for it's hero to be 'transformed' in some shape or form.
Take the opening two parter. We have:
The Ordinary World: We are introduced to Twilight Sparkle, a recluse Unicorn who locks herself away in her studies in Canterlot. She has no time for anypony.
The Call To Adventure: External pressure. She deduces that Nightmare Moon is set to return, and the only thing that can stop her is the Elements Of Harmony.
Refusal Of The Call: Twilight does not believe making friends is important. Especially not now. The fate of Equestria does not rest on me making friends.
Meeting The Mentor: It could be said to be both Celestia (via her replying letter) and Spike. But in this example what it probably is is the 'mission' to go check out the preparations for the summer solstice celebration.
I'd also like to stop here to highlight how, although FIM is sorta following the monomyth template, it is not completely and rigidly abiding by it. Case in point, numbers 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 can be swapped around with each other, in the order of 2, 1, 4, 3.
Crossing The Threshold: In this case it can be only one thing; going to Ponyville.
Tests, Allies And Enemies: This would be Twilight meeting the rest of the mane six, seeing Celestia disappear, Nightmare Moon making an appearance, and finding the book about the Elements Of Harmony.
Approach: Going into the Everfree Forest together.
The Ordeal: This would be the five problems they encountered and overcame, along with the confrontation with Nightmare.
The Reward: Defeating Moon, returning Luna, and gaining the Elements, Twilight learning what it means to have friends, and Tia returning.
The Road Back: The return to Ponyville.
The Resurrection: Twilight is faced with the possibility of having to leave her friends again. But she stays with them, and is to study friendship.
Return With The Elixir: Twilight now lives in Ponyville, with access to the Elements, and beginning her studies of friendship.
So yeah, it's not a complete match, but it's pretty close. This is all probably pretty obvious, but since I'm trying to learn how to write again I think it helps to study it.
What it really tells me is that never mind external threats and villains. What a good story needs is for it's hero to be 'transformed' in some shape or form.
I wouldn't try to slavishly follow it either but it is useful. Particularly in working out what way the Hero is transformed which is what most stories are really about.