Discover How Narrative Has Captivated Humanity

The Evolution of Narrative Structure

A Journey from Enheduanna to Herogram

Narrative has been a powerful means to unite people around fundamental societal themes since time immemorial. An early example of this phenomenon is found in Enheduanna (2285–2250 B.C.), a Sumerian priestess whose psalms and religious writings demonstrated how narrative could unite people around socially structuring themes such as religion, gods, and new kings.

Enheduanna, daughter of King Sargon of Akkad, was the first known author in history. Her hymns and religious writings not only honored the gods but also legitimized her father’s reign. Through poetry and narrative, Enheduanna succeeded in uniting people around the worship of the gods and the recognition of the king’s power.

Over time, narrative techniques evolved. In ancient Greece, Aristotle established the three-act structure, providing a clear framework for storytelling that still resonates in contemporary narrative. This structure allowed Greek playwrights like Sophocles and Euripides to create works that explored deep and universal themes.

The Hegelian dialectic, introduced by Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel in 1820, takes us through a dance of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis, revealing evolution through conflict. The Freytag pyramid, created in 1863, guides us through exposition, climax, and resolution, creating an emotional rollercoaster that captivates the reader.

In the 20th century, Sigmund Freud introduced a new dimension to narrative with his psychoanalytic approach. By exploring unconscious impulses and internal conflicts of characters, Freud allowed us to delve into the complexities of the human mind, adding a layer of psychological depth to our stories.

Carl Jung, a student of Freud, further expanded our understanding of narrative with his concept of the hero’s journey. Inspired by myths and legends, Jung described an archetypal journey of self-discovery and transformation that has resonated with writers and audiences alike.

The hero’s journey (1949 A.D.), developed by Joseph Campbell, is based on a universal archetype that describes the process of personal transformation. Its main advantage is its flexibility and ability to connect with the audience’s emotions. However, it may be challenging to apply to stories that do not fit the hero’s pattern.

In this evolution, modern authors like Syd Field, Linda Seger, Chris Vogler, Michael Hauge, Robert McKee, John Truby, Blake Snyder, and Dan Harmon have played a fundamental role in popularizing and systematizing narrative techniques.

These authors have contributed to universal narrative in various ways:

1. Systematization of narrative structures: They have codified and organized narrative structures, making it easier to understand and apply their principles. Syd Field, for example, popularized the three-act structure, while Vogler adapted Campbell’s hero’s journey to a more practical model.
2. Focus on character development: They have delved into the importance of character and emotional development. Seger, for example, introduced tools like the “logline” and the “character paradigm”, while Hauge focused on “turning points” as catalysts for internal character change.
3. Understanding audience emotions: They have explored audience emotions as a fundamental element for the success of a story. McKee, for example, offers a deep analysis of storytelling with an emphasis on scene construction and theme, while Harmon developed the “story circle theory” to understand audience expectations.
4. Opening new creative possibilities: They have opened new creative possibilities by offering different perspectives and tools for story construction. Truby, for example, proposes a method based on 22 principles to create emotionally and commercially impactful stories, while Snyder offers a 15-point “beat sheet” as a practical guide for structuring scripts.

Together, the work of these authors has raised the standard of universal narrative, providing audiences with richer, deeper, and more memorable stories. Their work has democratized storytelling knowledge, allowing people from diverse backgrounds to create stories with greater impact and resonance.

It is also worth highlighting the Story Diamond, by Stan Williams, which divides the story into eight segments, each with a specific meaning, and offers a flexible structure that adapts to various genres and styles. This combines the best of different theories like the hero’s journey, Save the Cat!, and Michael Arndt’s stakes model, creating a comprehensive view of narrative structure.

In 2019, I propose Herogram. Inspired by traditional techniques and forgotten methodologies, Herogram offers a comprehensive methodology that embraces the complexity and diversity of the human experience. By merging the best of the past with a vision for the future, Heroegrama invites us to explore new frontiers in narrative, challenging our expectations and expanding our understanding of what a story can be.