Dan Harmon's Circle Theory of Narrative: A Comprehensive Guide and Illustrations
The Story Circle, a narrative framework developed by Dan Harmon, offers a practical and accessible approach to storytelling, particularly for writers and creators in the screenwriting and novel-writing industries. This method, inspired by Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, simplifies the complex process of plot development while maintaining a strong focus on character evolution and emotional transformation.
The Eight Stages of the Story Circle
At the heart of the Story Circle lies an eight-step structure that outlines the key stages of a story:
- Ordinary World: The protagonist is introduced in their familiar environment, setting the baseline for their character and the story's context.
- Call to Adventure: The protagonist encounters a problem or desire that disrupts their ordinary world, setting them on a journey.
- Refusal of the Call: The protagonist initially resists the call to adventure, often due to fear or uncertainty.
- Meeting the Mentor: The protagonist meets a guide, teacher, or ally who encourages them to embark on their journey.
- Crossing the Threshold: The protagonist leaves their ordinary world and enters a new, often unfamiliar environment.
- Tests, Allies, Enemies: The protagonist faces various tests, encounters new allies, and confronts enemies as they progress through their journey.
- Approach to the Inmost Cave: The protagonist reaches a critical point in their journey, often facing the greatest challenge yet.
- Ordeal: The protagonist experiences a significant setback or emotional turmoil, forcing them to confront their deepest fears and insecurities.
After the ordeal, the protagonist typically undergoes a transformation, returning changed from their experiences. This transformation marks the conclusion of the Story Circle, signifying the protagonist's growth and the resolution of the story.
Balancing Plot and Character Development
While the Story Circle provides a clear structure for plot progression, it is essential to avoid overemphasizing the plot at the expense of character development. Moments that reveal character depth and growth should be balanced throughout the narrative to ensure a well-rounded story.
Adaptability Across Media
The Story Circle is not confined to a single medium. It can be adapted to suit screenplays, novels, television episodes, video games, and more. For interactive storytelling, such as in video games, the Story Circle guides player engagement through well-structured missions and character arcs. Games like "The Legend of Zelda" follow a hero's journey that aligns closely with Harmon's methods, making the gameplay experience deeply compelling.
Key Differences from Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey
Compared to Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, Harmon's Story Circle is a simplified, practical adaptation designed primarily for screenwriters and novelists. It condenses Campbell's 12+ stage mythic structure into 8 clear, character-focused steps. While the Hero's Journey is ideal for epic, myth-like adventures and emphasizes broader archetypal roles and stages, Harmon’s circle emphasizes emotional transformation and internal change of everyday heroes in tighter, character-driven plots.
In essence, Dan Harmon's Story Circle distills Campbell’s complex hero’s journey into a concise, replicable eight-step cycle emphasizing internal change and character-driven storytelling rather than mythic grandeur.
Applying the Story Circle in Practice
From television shows like "Community" and "Rick and Morty" to novels and video games, the Story Circle has proven to be a versatile and effective tool for storytelling. By focusing on the protagonist's transformation and the significant costs associated with achieving their goals, stories constructed using Dan Harmon's Circle Theory often achieve a heightened emotional impact, connecting with both writers and audiences on a deeper level.
