Plotting the Low Point
Every week I look at a story by breaking down a specific storytelling device it uses effectively.
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Next to a story’s Climax, the Low Point is arguably its most dramatic and important moment.
But what is a Low Point?
Warning: Inside Out spoilers ahead.
Lots of stories approach this moment differently. But I was sitting with my 2-year-old watching the last third of Inside Out a couple of weeks ago when I was struck hard by its Low Point. I mean Bing Bong sacrificing himself? Come on!
So of course, I went into analysis mode. I love to break down stories because every time I do, I feel myself becoming a better storyteller.
Here’s what I noticed about the Low Point of Inside Out.
First off, for a little context, the Low Point comes at about the 75% mark in a story. For our purposes here and now, it’s how I’m describing the Third Plot Point. (If that means anything to you, which it might not. The Third Plot Point is part of the 3-Act story structure. But there are dozens of ways to break down story structure, and the terminology isn’t really that important.)
So let’s break down this tear-jerker of a moment! (Yes, I did tear up a bit myself.)
Riley runs away from home.
Joy, in an effort to get back to the main headquarters, grabs Riley’s core memories and shoots herself up through an air duct, abandoning Sadness in the process. (Head shake.)
Things go poorly, and Joy and Bing Bong fall down into the forgotten memories.
Joy revisits the core memories she’s been holding onto and discovers that one of Riley’s most joyful memories was preceded by sadness.
Joy picks herself up and finds Bing Bong’s rocket to get her and Bing Bong out of the canyon.
Bing Bong sacrifices himself in order to get Joy back up to the main memory storage.
Okay. Now that we’re clear on what happened, what were the storytelling techniques at play behind these events? What did they accomplish in the story?
1 ) Emphasize the theme
This moment emphasizes the main theme of the story: that every emotion is important to a full life.
Joy finally realizes this truth for the first time when she rewinds Riley’s memory and discovers that her joyful moment with her hockey team only came after they lost the big playoff game.
This offers a revelation for the protagonist and an emphasis on the theme.
2) Move the character arc forward
Joy’s arc takes her from ignorant bliss to appreciating a full rainbow of emotions. She goes from childlike to adult, and this Low Point is an important moment on that journey. It helps her understand and grow.
3) Give the protagonist clarity
Going along with the previous bullet point, this Low Point offers Joy clarity.
Up until now, she has been unable to understand or appreciate Sadness. She views this character as unnecessary and even detrimental to Riley’s emotional health.
But this moment of clarity offers Joy a new perspective. It lets her see Sadness/sadness as a puzzle piece in the larger picture. (It’s also important to note that this clarity comes as Joy herself is feeling sadness and defeat, which was a way for the storytellers to further drive the impact of this moment and this theme home.)
4) Inspire the protagonist to double down on their desire and/or story goal
With Joy’s newfound clarity and growth comes another important emotion: resolve.
Joy now sees Sadness/sadness’s relevance and necessity and has learned from her example. So Joy doubles down on her story goal: to get back to headquarters and save Riley.
From this, Joy is able to welcome new ideas (as she did with the insight into sadness) and comes up with a plan to get her and Bing Bong back.
Note: desire and story goal are not necessarily the same thing. Sometimes after the Low Point, a character may abandon their original goal because the clarity they’ve received has allowed them to realize it’s not what is actually important.
5) Death and rebirth
The Low Point often signifies a moment of death and rebirth.
As such, death - either real or symbolic - is often present at this point in a story. Inside Out is no exception. Bing Bong takes on this metaphor and sacrifices himself so that Joy can go on.
The childlike part of herself has died.
John Truby in his book Anatomy of Story refers to two different needs in protagonists: a psychological need and a moral need.
The moral need is the flaw a hero must overcome that is harmful to other people. Joy’s arrogance and stubborn idea that she knows best have been harmful to others, most especially Sadness.
This part of her dies at this moment in the story and she settles into the new, stronger part of herself. One that is higher in the journey of her Character Arc: the ability to appreciate all emotions (or all people) for what they have to offer.
Story is amazing, huh?
The first time I watched this movie, I had no idea so much was going on. But as I’ve learned more about the science and techniques behind storytelling, I am better able to appreciate (hey, kinda like Joy!) all of the moving parts, symbols, and impact happening behind the scenes.
What do you think? Are there any other elements that I missed from the Low Point in Inside Out?
The fastest way to write a strong story is with an effective outline that plots your novel’s beating heart.
In Outline Your Novel, you’ll learn exactly what these beats are, why they matter, and how to outline them effectively to make your story sing.
