The 8 stages of the story arc
1. Stasis
Ofelia , our protagonist , a girl fascinated with fairy tales and her mother on their way to meet with Ofelia’s new stepfather . the Captain Dramatic premise.
2. Trigger
One night, Ofelia wakes up to a large insect who turns into a fairy and leads her to a Labyrinth. When Ofelia reaches the maze, she meets a fauned.
3. The quest
The faun is convinced that Ofelia is the reincarnation of Princess Moanna and that it is her destiny to return to the Underworld . Then Ofelia gets a book that describes three tasks that she must complete in order to go back to the Underworld.
4. Surprise
The character the hero needs to return to the underground world : self sacrifice and protection of the innocent
5. Critical choice
After completing her first task, Ofelia’s mother grows even sicker and she is hesitant to carry out the other two. But she finally chooses to continue the tasks.
6. Climax
The faun visits Ofelia again and tells her her last chance to prove herself is to take her new brother to the Labyrinth, The last task is the final choice—to give her little brother to the faun as a sacrifice or return him to the villainous Vidal.
7. Reversal
In the ultimate selfless act, She refuses them both, and chooses to protect her brother’s life with her own.
8. Resolution
Vidal grabs the baby and shoots Ofelia, as her blood drips down into the labyrinth, Ofelia successfully entered that world. Her father and mother are the king and queen of this world. They are finally reunited. In the real world, we see Ofelia die, but the closing narration tells us that she reigned for centuries in the underworld…
Archetypes
1. Hero : Ofelia (the main protagonist)
2. Threshold Guardian : The Faun. He shows all the qualities of an archetypicalw threshold guardian and it is unclear as to whether or not he is on the side of good orevil. Pan would give Ofelia tasks to complete , but if she failed he wouldn’t punish her or help her , he would act neutral.
3. Herald : Vidal fights the rebels and ends up killing his doctor,Carmen ends up dying but not after giving birth to a healthy son
4. Shapeshifter : Carmen , Ofelia’ mother , faces a difficult choice between her cruel and despotic husband and her own daughter
5. Shadow : Captain Vidal, Ofelia’s new stepfather
6. Trickster : Pan
7. Aiiies(sidekicks) : The fairy in the underground world ; Mercedes and the Doctor in reality
Ofelia’s Timeline
It is said that the princess of the underground kingdom escaped from the kingdom and came to the world and lost her memory
Ofelia was born and grew up. The film began when her mother takes her on the way to her step father of a captain
Ofelia is guided by the spirit of the underground world, coming to the maze , then meets Fuan. He tells her that she was the princess of the underground kingdom. Now she needs to complete three tasks to test whether her character is polluted by the world. After passing the test, she can return to the underground world
After completing two tasks(1.feed a giant toad magic stones to snag the key 2.enter the lair of the pale man and use the key to retrieve a dagger), Her mother dies after giving birth
The faun visits Ofelia again and tells her her last chance to prove herself is to take her new brother to the Labyrinth, while the captain commanding to bring the baby back
Ofelia chooses to sacrifice herself, however the captain follows and shoots her, as her blood drips down into the labyrinth, Ofelia successfully entered that world. Her father and mother are the king and queen of this world. They are finally reunited. In the real world, we see Ofelia die, but the closing narration tells us that she reigned for centuries in the underworld…