PLOT STRUCTURE - FILM REVIEW

“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) follows the young boy Harry Potter who learns on his eleventh birthday that he is the orphaned son of two powerful wizards and possesses unique magical powers of his own. He is summoned from his life as an unwanted child to become a student at Hogwarts, an English boarding school for wizards. There, he meets several friends who become his closest allies and help him discover the truth about his parents' mysterious deaths.” This review will be exploring the structure, of Chris Columbus’ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), the adaptation of the novel by J.K Rowling, specifically looking at the work of Syd Field. 

Syd Field was a leading American author and speaker who is mostly renown for his work on the ‘three-act structure’. In this he describes that every story is broken up into three sections/acts with each one representing an aspect of the story. Act 1 is the setup for the story, act 2 is the confrontation and then act 3 represents the resolution for the story, resembling the beginning, middle and end. Within this structure there is also a plot point 1 and 2, which are usually two key turning points in the film (Fig. 1)

Figure 1; Augmented Syd Field Model of Story Structure

The setup usually there to introduce the characters and their give information on their background, It also sets the atmosphere for the film. The audience are instantly introduced to Harry Potter the protagonist of the film, his aunt Petunia, uncle Vernon and cousin Dudley. At the start there is usually an Inciting Incident which takes place to ignite the beginning of the story, in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) this is represented through Harry’s invitation to join Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. However, in his aunts and uncles attempt to destroy this invitation and prevent him from receiving it they fail, which results in them moving into the ‘hut on the rock’ a remote cabin on an island. While in the hut the family are soon visited by the character Hagrid who hands delivers the invitation to Harry, and they both set off to Hogwarts. This closes act 1 of the film.

The plot point 1 is an event that sets the story in motion and moves you from the setup (act 1 )to the confrontation (act 2). This is the part when the protagonist’s life changes dramatically, and is often when they begin their journey. This point in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) begins when Harry and Hagrid arrive at King’s Cross Station to catch the Hogwarts Express for the first time. When he and the other students arrive at Hogwarts there is no option for returning, as his world is about to change. 

The second act, confrontation is classed as the middle of the story,and is usually the longest out of the three acts. Within the second act or confrontation there is a midpoint event which takes place that puts the protagonist into danger. Harry becomes Gryffindors youngest seeker in 100 years with his unique ways of flying a broom. He plays his first Quidditch match against Slytherin, the antagonist house of the film. With Gryffindor taking a strong lead, Harry chases after the golden snitch, but soon loses control of his broom. With Hermione’s help it is soon revealed that it is Professor Snape hexing the broom. Harry regains control and ends up swallowing the snitch, causing Gryffindor to win the match. (Fig.2)

Figure 2; Harry Potter catching the golden snitch

Plot point 2 is the point in the story which moves it from the midpoint to the end act (resolution). Here the character realises that they hold key information about what happened in the midpoint. In the film  this could be seen represented in the scene when Harry uses his invisible cloak to enter the restricted section of library in attempt to find out what Hogwarts is hiding. While on his way back to his room his witnesses Professor Snape threatening another teacher, Professor Quirrel, who is then later revealed to be working for Lord Voldemort. It could also been represented through the scene in which Harry first encounters Voldemort in the Dark Woods. He is shown drinking unicorn blood and nearly kills Harry if the centaurs didn't intervene. This is important for the story and protagonist as it enlightens them of the danger they are in.

In the third act or resolution is when the final conflict happens and then story is resolved. Everything which has happened in the story leads up to this moment, the character can either achieve their goals or fail. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) Harry and his friends believe the Sorcerer’s Stone is about to be stolen by Snape, as it’s powers will grant life to Voldemort, in retaliation they wish after him. Within act 3 the climax occurs, which is the most intense/ important point of the story. In attempt to reach the Sorcerer’s Stone the characters have to complete various tasks, one being to win a giant game os wizards chess. Ron sacrifices himself so that Harry can continue on to the final confrontation. Ready to confront Snape, Harry is shocked to find that it is professor Quirrel looking for the stone. The tension is further increased when it is revealed that Voldemort has possessed Quirrel. Harry becomes trumpet over quirrel and Voldemort, and is then shown to be in possession of the Sorcerer’s Stone. 

The resolution/ act 3 ends with Gryffindor house being rewarded with the coveted house cup as a result of their sacrifice and actions. Therefore, it can be said that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) does follow Field’s idea of a three act structure. 

Bibliography;

Day, K. (2015). A Seven Point Story Structure Case Study of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" — The Writing Kylie. [online] The Writing Kylie. Available at: https://thewritingkylie.com/blog/a-seven-point-story-structure-case-study-of-harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone [Accessed 3 Nov. 2019].

Helping Writers Become Authors. (n.d.). Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - Story Structure Analysis. [online] Available at: https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/movie-storystructure/harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone/ [Accessed 3 Nov. 2019].

Illustration List:

Figure 1: Augmented Syd Field Model of Story Structure, Available at: https://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com/Syd-Field.html

Figure 2: Harry Potter catching the golden snitch, Available at: https://929nin.com/u-s-quidditch-cup-coming-to-texas-in-2018/