Herogram:
A Narrative Meta-Syllogism
For decades, scholars have debated the underlying structure of narrative. Aristotle’s three-act structure, Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey, and Stan Williams’ four-act diamond are influential models, yet each has its limitations.
In recent years, I have developed a new framework that offers a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of narrative: Heroegram. Herogram is a structure of nine moments that illuminates the hidden logic and mathematics of storytelling.
Herogram is based on the Aristotelian Syllogism, a three-part logical argument. In the Syllogism, the major premise provides general information, the minor premise provides specific information, and the conclusion draws a logical inference from the two premises.
In Herogram, the major premise is represented by the first three moments:
Moment 1: Ordinary Life
Moment 2: Minor Motive or Objective
Moment 3: Revelation
These moments establish the protagonist’s ordinary life, introduce the protagonist’s desire or objective, and provide a glimpse into the protagonist’s potential.
The minor premise is represented by the fifth and sixth moments:
Moment 5: Limiting Belief
Moment 6: Achievements
These moments represent the protagonist’s internal struggle and external conflict. The protagonist must overcome their limiting beliefs and achieve their objective to progress on their journey.
The conclusion is represented by the final three moments:
Moment 7: Major Motive or Objective
Moment 8: Reconnection
Moment 9: Possession
These moments represent the protagonist’s transformation, return to ordinary life, and mastery of both worlds. The protagonist has learned and grown from their journey and can now live a fuller life.
Herogram is a powerful tool for understanding and analyzing narrative. It can help writers create more effective stories and help readers appreciate the hidden logic and mathematics of storytelling.
In particular, Herogram’s parallels with the Aristotelian Syllogism reveal a hidden structure of logic and order in narrative. The major premise, represented by the first three moments, provides the story’s foundation. The minor premise, represented by the fifth and sixth moments, provides the conflict and resolution. And the conclusion, represented by the final three moments, provides the transformation and resolution.
Herogram is a valuable tool for writers and narrative scholars. It provides a new way to understand the hidden structure of storytelling and offers a framework for creating more effective and engaging stories.
As the author of Herogram, I am proud to have developed a framework that can help people better understand and appreciate the power of narrative. I believe Heroegram has the potential to revolutionize how we think about storytelling, and I am excited to see how it will be used in the years to come.
Don’t miss this opportunity to rediscover narrative and storytelling through Heroegram.
