The power of three's in storytelling.
Why is it always three? Why not two or four?
The Rule of Three
According to Google, the rule of three is a storytelling principle that suggests people understand concepts, situations, and ideas better in groups of three. It's also a writing principle that suggests a trio of entities is more humorous, satisfying, or effective than other numbers.
But Why?
The reason why the number three shows up the most in storytelling likely has roots in both psychological and practical reasons. Some reasons why three is such a powerful number include:
Simplicity and Complexity Balance: Two can seem too simple, and four or more can be too complex.
Rhythm and Pace: A sequence of three creates a satisfying rhythm.
Psychological Resonance: Studies in cognitive psychology suggest that people tend to remember and process information best in threes. It seems to align with the way our brains pattern information.
Structural Stability: Triangles are the simplest stable geometric shape. In the same way, a three-part structure provides stability in a narrative or argument without overcomplicating it.
Rules of Three in Action
Basic Story Structure: Every story has a Beginning, Middle, and End.
The Three-Act Structure: Most stories have three acts, including a Setup, Confrontation, and Resolution. The acts are also known as Thesis, Antithesis, and Synthesis (these are my favorite terms for the structure as we see this happening all the time in life. We expect something, get the opposite, and learn to deal with the new situation.)
Three Artistic Proofs: Introduced by Aristotle, the Three Artistic Proofs include:
Ethos: Catches the audience's attention by using ethics or a moral appeal.
Pathos: Appeals to the audience's feelings, like fear or love.
Logos: Persuades the audience with facts and statistics.
The Hero's Three Trials: In many stories, the hero faces three tests or trials that they have to overcome.
Three Main Characters: These usually include the Protagonist, Antagonist, and Love Interest/Mentor.
Three Types of Conflict: In storytelling, there are usually three types of conflict that can occur:
Man vs. Man
Man vs. Nature
Man vs. Self
Trilogies: Many books and movies tend to be made in three parts.
Visual Triangles: Visual triangles are created by placing three key elements in a triangular formation within the frame. They can be created with any combination of objects, shapes, or people within the frame, and can be used in photography, filmmaking, graphic design, and other visual arts.
Rule of Thirds: A composition technique in photography that involves dividing an image into thirds horizontally and vertically.
Three Tasks or Events: Many classic stories have three main tasks or events that must occur:
Dorothy must see the Wizard, defeat the Wicked Witch, and click her heels (The Wizard of Oz)
Simba loses his father, flees his kingdom, and returns to reclaim the throne (The Lion King)
Katniss competes in the 74th Hunger Games, the Quarter Quell, and the Capitol Games (The Hunger Games)
Three Locations: Stories tend to only occur around three main locations:
Kansas, Oz, Kansas (The Wizard of Oz)
Isla Nublar, Site B island, San Diego (Jurassic Park)
The Shire, Rivendell, Mordor (Lord of the Rings)
Three Clues: Mysteries and thrillers often use three clues that have to be pieced together to unravel the plot. This technique helps build suspense.
Three cryptic notes from A (Pretty Little Liars)
Three coins left on victims' eyes (CSI: Miami)
Three threatening texts from the stalker (You)
Three Examples to Illustrate a Point: Many times in storytelling, authors use three examples to illustrate a point, instead of just one.
The Storytelling Triangle: A concept explained by Hayden Hillier-Smith, the storytelling triangle prioritizes one of three elements over the other in a story, constantly switching to keep engagement.
Story: The core narrative and plot
Emotion: The emotional resonance and connection
Rhythm: The pace and flow, balancing tension and release.
Other Examples of Threes
Drama: Aristotle's Poetics: Aristotle's principles of drama involve Plot, Character, and Music.
Communication: The Rhetorical Triangle: this involves the interplay between the Speaker, Audience, and Subject in rhetoric. It’s about balancing these elements to create persuasive communication.
Jokes: Jokes usually include three parts: the Setup, Anticipation, and Punchline.
Music: Melody, Harmony, and Rhythm in music must be in balance to create pleasing sound.