I am researching the common elements present in the first books of Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games and figuring out why they work. I started outlining the shared traits of all three books below.
BEGIN “DREARY HOMELAND” FOR CHAPTERS 1 THROUGH 4.5 (the average separation period occupies the first 21% of the example novels)
- Chapter 1
- hero trait: introduce hero’s age, body type, hair and eye color through meaningful description
- hero trait: hero’s parents are dead/unavailable
- hero trait: introduce Hero’s everyday goal
- hero trait: explain how Hero’s life is missing love/friendship/care
- scene card: open on a bittersweet celebration day
- character card: introduce villain
- theme card: socioeconomic tension (show the hero is poor)
- symbolism: briefly describe hero’s clothing as introduction
- symbolism: the hero is “marked” by an actual symbol
- Chapter 2
- scene card: a day in the life (pleasant/normal errand)
- hero trait: introduce “Chekhov’s Gun”
- symbol card: hero prepares his family food
- character card: introduce Herald
- character card: introduce Mentor
- scene card: hero receives invitation for adventure
- Chapter 3 (PRE-MIDDLE)
- scene card: hero takes a short trip
- character card: Mentor (visit armory)
- scene card: hero says goodbye to his family
- scene card: hero boards mass transit to awful-awesome land
- theme card: socioeconomic tension (show the hero embarassed or mocked for being poor)
- theme card: racial or ethnic tension between groups
- scene card: clue #1
- character card: the Healer
- symbolism: other characters recognize hero because of his “mark”
- Chapter 4 (PRE-MIDDLE)
- symbol card: introduce element of magic/fantasy/sci-fi
- character card: Mentor (challenges authority)
- theme card: death (fight for survival)
- symbolism: the hero changes clothes
- scene card: hero receives backstory through questions
- scene card: hero learns something that foreshadows the climax
BEGIN “AWFUL-AWESOME LAND” FROM CHAPTER 4.5 TO 19.5 (the average initiation period occupies the middle 71% of the example novels)
- Chapter 5 (PRE-MIDDLE)
- scene card: Trial #1 (WIN): social acceptance “ceremony”
- character card: introduce the Wise One
- symbolism: the hero shares someone’s jacket
- scene card: the hero receives advice
- theme card: Good vs. Evil (hero doesn’t know whom to trust)
- scene card: hero anticipates danger
- symbolism: the hero’s “mark” represents his lost parent’s protection
- Chapter 6
- scene card: Trial #2 (WIN)
- character card: introduce sidekick (appearance, background, share food, sit quietly)
- symbol card: hero enjoys some strange food
- scene card: the hero makes preparations
- hero trait: the hero is the reluctant center of attention (everyone stares)
- character card: the bully
- setting card: the cafeteria
- theme card: racial or ethnic tension between groups
- Chapter 7
- scene card: Trial #3 (DRAW): hero takes a “pop quiz”
- scene card: hero’s everyday goal overshadowed by threat from Villain; goal priority moves to survival
- character card: the sidekick acts as magical guide; the sidekick and the hero have a sleepover
- scene card: Wake hero up with a foreshadowing nightmare.
- scene card: Star-Crossed Lovers (introduce antagonistic attraction/love interest)
- symbol card: use music to show magical elements, humor, authority, beauty, or a celebration
- Chapter 8
- scene card: Trial #4 (DRAW)
- hero trait: another character praises the hero’s talent and good looks
- hero trait: hero doesn’t recognize his talent or good looks
- scene card: force the hero to spend time with the love interest
- character card: The Shapeshifter
- setting card: the cafeteria
- Chapter 9
- scene card: Trial #5 (WIN)
- character card: the sidekick acts as magical guide
- character card: Mentor (receives help from hero)
- hero trait: hero breaks some rules
- hero trait: hero is a talented athlete (and changes clothes when playing sports)
- scene card: love interest Q&A session
- female character trait: the main female character cries alone
- Chapter 10
- scene card: Trial #6 (DRAW)
- scene card: hero’s family/friends reject her when she chooses to go after Villain; Hero cannot explain situation to them
- scene card: hero has a sleepless, stressful night.
- symbol card: ancient myth
- theme card: Good vs. Evil (the hero conflicts with good authority figures)
- setting card: the cafeteria
- Chapter 11
- character card: the sidekick and the hero are compared athletically
- theme card: socioeconomic status (show the hero resenting or lashing out at someone wealthier)
- character card: Mentor (withholds information)
- scene card: (Trial #7 (WIN)) the hero is rescued by a minor character
- character card: the Healer
- scene card: the hero eavesdrops and makes a bad assumption
- Chapter 12
- symbolism: the hero changes clothes prior to obstacle
- scene card: Trial #8 (DRAW) : hero is in the air; secret good guy is on the ground
- character card: the sidekick protects the hero from future harm
- scene card: the hero has a horrific vision.
- character card: the bully
- symbolism: the hero’s “mark” warns him of danger
- Chapter 13
- character card: the sidekick acts as magical guide
- character card: Mentor (sends hero message)
- scene card: (Trial #9 (FAIL)) the hero attempts to rescue a friend.
- theme card: death (philosophically questioning death)
- Chapter 14
- scene card: (Trial #10 (DRAW)) the hero plays hide-n-seek with the villain’s henchmen
- character card: Mentor (gives gift)
- character card: The Shapeshifter
- theme card: Good vs. Evil (other good characters conflict with each other)
- scene card: sweet make-out session (first kiss)
- Chapter 15
- scene card: Trial #11 (WIN) (hero trait: demonstrate “Chekhov’s Gun“)
- character card: the sidekick’s family/hometown sends hero a gift
- character card: Mentor (helps hero’s friend)
- scene card: hero risks life to protect her family/friends from Villain
- symbol card: use music as a symbol to show care, show connection, solve a problem, or trigger a memory
- Chapter 16
- scene card: Trial #12 (FAIL/DRAW) the hero incapacitates a friend.
- scene card: hero lies to protect someone (withholds information)
- dark/enchanted forest setting
- theme card: Good vs. Evil (the villain cannot control every bad guy)
- female character trait: the heroine flirts to receive information
- symbolism: the hero’s “mark” represents survival as an act of rebellion
- Chapter 17
- scene card: (Trial #13 (WIN)) the hero is rescued by a major character
- scene card: hero can’t ask for help (withholds information)
- scene card: hero sleeps next to the love interest
- theme card: Good vs. Evil (society turns on the hero)
- character card: the Healer
- Chapter 18
- scene card: Trial #14 (WIN) the hero passes the Gatekeeper
- scene card: Trial #15 (WIN) (hero trait: fire “Chekhov’s Gun“)
- character card: the sidekick is badly hurt
- symbol card: ancient myth
- theme card: death (immortality)
- female character trait: the heroine emotionally manipulates someone
- Chapter 19
- scene card: final battle in villain’s lair; twist revealed; villain explains himself
- scene card: TKO, wakes up in hospital, asks what happened, gets cover story
- scene card: love interest declares love for hero
- character card: Mentor (emotional reunion)
- character card: the Wise One
BEGIN “HOMEWARD BOUND” SECTION FROM CHAPTER 19.5 UNTIL THE END (the average return period occupies 8% of the end of the example novels. The length of endings have the largest variation: Harry Potter’s ending = 3% of the novel, Twilight’s ending = 15% of the novel, and The Hunger Games = 7% of the novel)
- Chapter 20
- symbolism: the hero changes back in to clothes of homeland
- theme card: death (acceptance of fate / sacrifice for love)
- Chapter 21 (Optional Epilogue)
- scene card: ending with closure that hints at a continued threat
- character card: Mentor (returns hero home)
Check out the archives to see these elements grouped by category.
