The three-act structure is a classic storytelling framework used in many films, including Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). This structure divides a narrative into three parts: the setup, the confrontation, and the resolution.
Below is a detailed breakdown of how Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs follows this timeless formula.
Act 1: The Setup
Introduction to the World and Characters
The first act establishes the hook, the setting, characters, and the central conflict. We are introduced to the fairytale world, where the Evil Queen, Snow White’s stepmother, rules with vanity and cruelty.
Snow White, the kind and beautiful princess, is forced to work as a scullery maid despite her royal status. The Queen’s magic mirror reveals that Snow White has surpassed her in beauty, setting up the central conflict of jealousy and danger.
Inciting Incident
The story takes a significant turn when the Queen orders the Huntsman to take Snow White into the forest and kill her. This moment propels Snow White into danger and signals the beginning of her journey.
However, the Huntsman, moved by her innocence, cannot carry out the order. Instead, he urges her to flee into the woods, where she encounters terrifying imagery—gnarled trees and eerie sounds—before finding solace with woodland creatures.
First Plot Point
Snow White stumbles upon a quaint cottage in the forest, later revealed to belong to the Seven Dwarfs. This marks the end of Act 1, as Snow White finds temporary safety and a new home, shifting the story into the next phase.
Act 2: The Confrontation
Rising Action: The Queen’s Scheme
As Snow White bonds with the Dwarfs, she begins to experience joy and a sense of belonging. However, the Queen soon discovers that Snow White is still alive. Furious, she devises a new plan: disguise herself as an old hag and deliver a poisoned apple to Snow White.
Meanwhile, the Dwarfs warn Snow White not to talk to strangers, introducing dramatic irony as the audience knows she will inevitably fall into the Queen’s trap.
Midpoint: The Queen’s Attack
The midpoint occurs when the disguised Queen arrives at the cottage. Despite the Dwarfs’ warning, Snow White’s kind nature leads her to trust the old woman.
The Queen offers her the poisoned apple, and Snow White takes a bite, immediately falling into a deep, death-like sleep. This moment shifts the story into its darkest point, as it seems all hope is lost.
Second Plot Point: The Aftermath
The Dwarfs, realizing what has happened, chase the Queen up a mountainside during a thunderstorm. She ultimately meets her demise when lightning strikes, sending her plummeting to her death.
While the villain is defeated, the main conflict remains unresolved: Snow White is still under the sleeping curse.
Act 3: The Resolution
Climax: Love’s First Kiss
With the Queen vanquished, the Dwarfs mourn Snow White, placing her in a glass coffin. Time passes, and all seems lost until the Prince, who had met Snow White earlier, arrives.
Upon seeing her lifeless form, he kisses her, breaking the spell and awakening her from the curse.
Falling Action: Joy and Reunion
Snow White is revived, bringing relief and joy to the Dwarfs. The Prince lifts her onto his horse, and they ride off together toward his castle, symbolizing her return to happiness and her rightful place as a princess.
Conclusion: The Happy Ending
As Snow White and the Prince disappear into the distance, the story closes with a classic “happily ever after.” The resolution brings full closure to the conflict, completing the three-act structure with a satisfying ending.
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