While Harry first found it normal (for a wizard, probably he thinks), being a Parselmouth is major secret Harry hides in book two. Q Factor 1) Parseltongueįor much of the novel, Harry despises this unwanted characteristic. They are Q Factors that aid Harry’s otherwise impossible success. The reason? Both of these set-ups are paid-off with extreme purpose in the Chamber. Rowling sets-up Parseltongue and The Sorting Hat in both The Sorcerer’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets, but they’re given more attention in book two than one. The Q Factor Scene means nothing if not set-up in the beginning of the novel. Spoiler Alert: I’m going to give away the ending. Pay-offs are where the Q Factors come to life.] In other words, the writer fulfills their promise by making something they hinted would be important actually important in a character’s growth and/or action performed at the end of a story. Pay-offs are repayments to these set-ups. Set-ups show readers something important to the plot and/or character that will benefit a character greatly in a major conflict or revelation. Set-ups are promises a writer establishes in the opening book that they must fulfill before the end of the story. I could create an entire blog, literally, to analyzing how she does this, but for brevity’s sake, let’s take a look at two main Q Factors in The Chamber of Secrets: The Sorting Hat and Parseltongue. Rowling is queen of subtle set-ups that deliver big pay-offs. Rowling, and I invite you all now to examine two brilliant Q Factor devices perfectly set-up and paid off in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This leads me to the Queen of all plotting. They are thrilled when it does rise up again in the Q Factor Scene, living up to the potential put on it in previous scenes.Īnd while James Bond performs the Q Factor Signpost scene in an artful yet more obvious way, I’d encourage writers reading stories as a way to study their craft to explore more advanced structural examples. at the moment where they need to “dig deep” and remember something essential told, felt, or given to them early in the first act.īecause this information, feeling, or tangible device was provided early on-and because that “thing” or “moment” illuminated significant meaning, the readers/audience eagerly wait for it to return before the story ends. The trick to making the Q factor have meaning is by giving it back to the protagonist right after their Lights Out-i.e. (The only exception for calling too much attention to a plot point is when it’s used for comedic effect. You do want it to take on a new satisfying meaning. You don’t want something important to come off forced and/or preachy. Whatever you choose, be careful to avoid excessive attention on something set-up in the beginning of a story. Sometimes Q Factors are built up throughout a story, other times we see them once or twice and then marvelously executed at the moment a hero needs it/them the most. Q provides and explains essential tools in the beginning of the story, and these are always later used to save Bond’s life in his Lights Out moment. In other words, a writer plants important story structure elements early in the novel to highlight devices, details, and emotions that the hero will need in their darkest hours.īell tagged this Signpost Scene “The Q Scene” because the character Q’s role in the James Bond movies. Tagged the “Q Factor” in James Scott Bell’s breakdown of story structure, signpost scene #12 reveals satisfying payoffs to devices, characters, and scenes the author sets up in the beginning of the story. Though simple in concept, understanding it will determine the difference between a convenient ending and one readers will talk about for years. Signpost Scene #12, the Q Factor, in James Scott Bell’s Super Structure is not one to forget.
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