In a post on The Script Lab, Britton Perelman says the Rule of Three can help you give structure and momentum to your story.
Perelman says it’s no coincidence that events in movies and TV shows tend to happen in threes. “The Rule of Threes is a writing principle wherein the storyteller presents something three times for greater effect in the narrative,” Perelman explains. “Three is the lowest number needed to establish a pattern, and human beings have become accustomed to seeing things in groups of this number.” The rule applies to stories split into three acts or series that create a trilogy.
So, what does that mean on the page? In When Harry Met Sally…, Harry and Sally meet three times – in college, on a flight, and in a bookstore – before becoming friends. In Schindler’s List, Oskar Schindler offers his employee Itzhak Stern a drink on two occasions. Each time, Stern declines, but in the third act, he accepts, signaling that Schindler has earned his respect.
In The Dark Knight, the Joker asks “Wanna know how I got these scars?” three times. The first two times, he explains, each time differently. The third time, Batman stabs him in the face with Bat-Blades. “It’s a subversion of the subtle pattern established earlier in the movie, which shows the audience that the story has come to a pivotal turning point,” Perelman explains.
You can use this technique in action, dialogue, plot elements, or characterization. It can reinforce the audience’s understanding, undermine their expectations, or signal a change in the story. “For storytelling purposes, three works so well because it can provide a rhythm for the storyteller to use to their advantage without being too overt or heavy-handed,” she adds. “When you present something three times in a narrative, each occurrence takes on a certain meaning. These meanings might change depending on your desired effect, but they follow a similar pattern.”
