1. The Narrative Arc: Revealing Core Narrative Structures Through Text Analysis
- Author
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Ryan L. Boyd, Kate G. Blackburn, and James W. Pennebaker
- Subjects
narrative structure ,narrative arc ,emotional arc ,dramatic arc. computer-based language analysis ,content-related approache ,Education (General) ,L7-991 ,Language and Literature - Abstract
Scholars across disciplines have long debated the existence of a common structure that underlies narratives. Using computer-based language analysis methods, several structural and psychological categories of language were measured across ~40,000 traditional narratives (e.g., novels and movie scripts) and ~20,000 nontraditional narratives (science reporting in newspaper articles, TED talks, and Supreme Court opinions). Across traditional narratives, a consistent underlying story structure emerged that revealed three primary processes: staging, plot progression, and cognitive tension. No evidence emerged to indicate that adherence to normative story structures was related to the popularity of the story. Last, analysis of fact-driven texts revealed structures that differed from story-based narratives.
- Published
- 2022
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