The 6 Emotional Story Shapes that Science Found Resonate with Audiences Most
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Feb 10, 2025
Dive into the magic of emotional storytelling as the host examines six resonant arcs discovered through AI research. Explore how classic narratives like 'Cinderella' and 'Great Expectations' captivate audiences with their rise-fall dynamics. Learn to leverage these emotional shapes to enhance your own storytelling, making it more impactful and relatable. With personal anecdotes and examples from iconic films, discover how to forge deeper connections with your audience while crafting unforgettable narratives.
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insights INSIGHT
Story Shape Similarities
Stories often resemble each other because they share similar emotional structures.
Project Gutenberg analyzed 1300+ novels, revealing six recurring emotional shapes.
insights INSIGHT
Emotional Story Arcs
Project Gutenberg identified six emotional story shapes in literature.
These shapes focus on the emotional journey, not just surface events.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Rags to Riches
The 'rags to riches' arc shows a constant rise, like in 'Pursuit of Happyness'.
'Rocky' and 'Star Wars' also exemplify this rising emotional journey.
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Published in 1925, 'The Great Gatsby' is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life during the Jazz Age. The novel is narrated by Nick Carraway, who moves to Long Island and becomes entangled in the lives of his wealthy and mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and Gatsby's obsession to win back his first love, Daisy Buchanan. The story delves into themes of honesty, the temptations of wealth, and the struggle to escape the past, ultimately reflecting on the disintegration of the American Dream.
The Count of Monte Cristo
Alexandre Dumas père
The War of Art
Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
Steven Pressfield
In 'The War of Art', Steven Pressfield identifies the internal force of 'Resistance' that hinders creative endeavors. The book is divided into three sections: 'Resistance: Defining the Enemy', 'Combating Resistance: Turning Pro', and a final section that discusses the role of the muses and the battle between the Self and the Ego. Pressfield provides practical advice on recognizing and overcoming resistance, emphasizing the importance of professionalism, discipline, and continuous work in achieving creative success.
Great Expectations
Charles Dickens
Great Expectations is a classic novel by Charles Dickens that chronicles the life of Pip, a young orphan living in the marshes of Kent. The story begins with Pip's encounter with an escaped convict, Abel Magwitch, which sets off a chain of events that changes his life. Pip inherits a large fortune from an anonymous benefactor, which he uses to become a gentleman. However, his journey is marked by his unrequited love for Estella, the adopted daughter of the eccentric Miss Havisham, and his eventual discovery that his benefactor is not who he expected. The novel explores themes of social class, love, rejection, and the search for true identity, set against the backdrop of early 19th-century England.
"It's okay for you to use inspiration from other stories that have been there. The point is for you to know how do you tell your story differently" — Rain Bennett
In this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain dives into the emotional arcs of stories, drawing from his experience as a filmmaker and author.
He discusses the six emotional story shapes artificial intelligence identified through Project Gutenberg and emphasizes the universal nature of these patterns in storytelling.
Through examples from iconic films and his own personal anecdotes, Bennett highlights the impact of emotional storytelling on audience engagement and suggests using these patterns as inspiration rather than rigid templates.
You'll gain a deeper understanding of emotional storytelling and learn how to leverage these patterns to create more impactful and resonant narratives, ultimately enhancing your ability to engage with your audience through compelling storytelling.
In this episode, you will:
Uncover the power of emotional story arcs to captivate your audience and keep them engaged from start to finish.
Learn how storytelling can drive business growth and create a lasting impact on your audience and customers.
Master storytelling techniques that forge deeper connections with your audience, leaving a lasting impression.
Explore the emotional arcs found in Project Gutenberg's stories and discover how they can elevate your own storytelling.
Gain valuable storytelling tips from top storytellers that will elevate your storytelling game and leave a lasting impact on your audience.
The Storytelling Lab 
