The emotional arcs of stories are dominated by six basic shapes

{
  "checked_at": "2026-10-17T00:00:00.000Z",
  "usefulness": "Quantitative basis for story-shape templates (rise, fall, fall-rise, etc.) from 1,327 Project Gutenberg fiction works; usable as a measurable target or checker for generated arcs.",
  "source_type": "paper",
  "availability": "available",
  "source_owner": "Reagan et al. (University of Vermont)",
  "next_check_at": "2026-10-24T00:00:00.000Z",
  "known_limitations": [
    "Sentiment-based on text of public-domain novels, not screenplays."
  ]
}