Into the Woods
A Five-Act Journey Into Story
By: John Yorke
The idea of Into the Woods is not to supplant works by Aristotle, Lajos Egri, Robert McKee, David Mamet, or any other writers of guides for screenwriters and playwrights, but to pick up on their cues and take the reader on a historical, philosophical, scientific, and psychological journey to the heart of all storytelling. In this exciting and wholly original book, John Yorke not only shows that there is truly a unifying shape to narrative--one that echoes the great fairytale journey into the woods, and one, like any great art, that comes from deep within--he explains why, too. With examples ranging from The Godfather to True Detective, Mad Men to Macbeth, and fairy tales to Forbrydelsen (The Killing), Yorke utilizes Shakespearean five-act structure as a key to analyzing all storytelling in all narrative forms, from film and television to theatre and novel-writing--a big step from the usual three-act approach. Into the Woods: A Five-Act Journey Into Story is destined to sit alongside David Mamet's Three Uses of the Knife, Robert McKee's Story, Syd Field's Screenplay, and Lajos Egri's The Art of Dramatic Writing as one of the most original, useful, and inspiring books ever on dramatic writing.
AI Overview
Title: "Into the Woods: How Stories Work and Why We Tell Them" by John Yorke
Overview: "Into the Woods" is a seminal work on the structure and meaning of stories, written by John Yorke, a renowned British television producer and writer. The book delves into the fundamental elements of narrative, exploring why we tell stories and how they function in a universal, eerily similar way across various media forms, including film, television, theater, and novels.
Key Themes:
- The Structure of Stories: Yorke argues that there is a unifying shape to narrative, which he illustrates through the metaphor of a fairy-tale journey into the woods. He breaks down the narrative structure into five acts, similar to those found in classic fairy tales and dramatic works.
- Archetypal Stories: The book begins by examining archetypal stories, central characters, and their problems. It explores how these elements are present in various forms of storytelling, from ancient myths to modern films.
- The Purpose of Storytelling: Yorke posits that our need to understand the world drives the structure of stories. He draws on historical, philosophical, scientific, and psychological perspectives to explain why we tell stories and how they reflect our human experiences.
- Act Structure: The book dissects the various elements that make up different act structures, providing detailed examples from classic works like "Hamlet" and "The Godfather" to modern films.
Plot Summary: The book is structured around the idea of a narrative journey, akin to a fairy tale. It starts by exploring the fundamental questions of storytelling, such as "What is a story?" and "Why do we tell stories?" The first chapter delves into archetypal stories and central characters, laying the groundwork for the exploration of narrative structures. The subsequent chapters delve deeper into the act structure of popular films and other narrative forms, providing a comprehensive analysis of how stories work and why they are essential to human communication.
Critical Reception: The book has received positive reviews for its insightful and illuminating analysis of storytelling. Critics praise Yorke's intellectual narrator voice and the book's ability to provide factual information backed by succinct, researched examples. However, some reviewers note that the book sometimes jumps between topics without fully explaining each concept before moving on, making it more suitable for note-taking and research rather than a straightforward "how-to" guide.
Overall, "Into the Woods" is a rich and detailed exploration of the fundamental structure and meaning of all stories, making it a valuable resource for writers, screenwriters, and anyone interested in the art of storytelling.