Herogram: A Narrative 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 all influential models, but each has its limitations.
In recent years, I have developed a new framework that offers a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of narrative: Herogram. Herogram is a nine-moment structure 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 the 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 goal, and provide a glimpse of 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 goal in order to progress in their journey.
The conclusion is represented by the final three moments: **
- Moment 7: Greater 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 they are now able to live a more fulfilling life.
The Herogram is a powerful tool for understanding and analyzing narrative. It can help writers to craft more effective stories, and it can help readers to appreciate the hidden logic and mathematics of storytelling.
In particular, the Herogram’s parallels to the Aristotelian Syllogism reveal a hidden structure of logic and order in narrative. The major premise, represented by the first three moments, provides the foundation for the story. 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.
The Herogram is a valuable tool for writers and scholars of narrative. It provides a new way of understanding the hidden structure of storytelling, and it offers a framework for crafting more effective and engaging stories.
As the author of the Herogram, I am proud to have developed a framework that can help people better understand and appreciate the power of storytelling. I believe that the Herogram has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about narrative, 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 story telling through Herogram
