PREMISE

    A premise is a short statement that makes an immediate value judgment on your characters. This judgment may not be true, in fact your story may even prove the premise to be false. The purpose of the premise is to clearly state that one of your characters has taken an emotional stand which he/she will fight to protect.
    The premise can be dissected into three parts, character, action and outcome. Here are some samples:
        CHARACTER ACTION OUTCOME
        Bitterness leads to false gaiety
        Foolish generosity leads to poverty
        Honesty defeats duplicity
        Heedlessness destroys friendship
        Ill-temper leads to isolation
        Materialism conquers mysticism
        Prudishness leads to frustration
    For those of you familiar with my medieval quintet, here are the premises I used for those books. You'll see that these very basic idea/statements were reflected in every aspect of each story through both main and secondary characters and even physically played out within the confines of the setting.
        Winter's Heat—Intimacy destroys emotional barriers
        Summer's Storm—Deception leads to exposure
        Spring's Fury—Acceptance brings happiness
        Autumn's Flame—Need destroys false self-sufficiency
        A Love for All Seasons—Hunger exposes deception
HOW A PREMISE WORKS ON YOUR CHARACTERS
    Only one main character in your story must be changed through the action of a premise; both can be but one must be. However, the second main character will reflect the emotional value of the premise and be lead to the same outcome in a less dramatic way.
        Example: Gone with the Wind
        Premise: Frustrated love destroys selfishness
    Selfish Scarlett loves Ashley although she knows he is devoted to Melanie. No matter what Scarlett does, she cannot convince Ashley that she is the better woman. Upon Melanie's death Scarlett runs to Ashley fully expecting him to fall into her arms at long last, only to be rebuffed. Her selfishness prevents her from seeing that Ashley cannot love her.
    Equally selfish Rhett is hopelessly in love with Scarlett. No matter what he does, he cannot break through her obsession with Ashley. Not even marriage brings the love he so desires. Only after their daughter dies does he finally understand Scarlett isn't capable of returning his love. As he recognizes this, he's changed; his selfishness is destroyed, along with his obsession with Scarlett.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN EXTRACTING A PREMISE
Romeo and Juliet: The tale of a love so great, it caused both characters to defy their families' tradition of hate and throw away life to unite in death.
Premise: Great love defies even death
King Lear: He is a vain man whose oldest daughters' flattery causes him to blindly trust them. But, flattery cannot be trusted. Those who do so are often led to destruction and ruin.
Premise: Blind trust leads to destruction