i rediscovered this during the pavilions rep review today. way back in 2007 i posted this and i think its an interesting read. the site i found it at no longer shows this but anyway here it is.

each and every story has one or more of these story characteristics. over 5 years ago i had to read a book in my english class called "the educated imagination" (TEI) which dealt with literature education. i found that it helped me understand writing and how to write good stories. by understanding the principles behind writing you are able to write better pieces.


The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. —Ecclesiastes 1:9

So every story has already been told. You’ve seen it before. The seven basic plot lines:

1. Man vs. Nature

2. Man vs. Man

3. Man vs. the environment

4. Man vs. Machines/Technology

5. Man vs. Self

6. Man vs. the Supernatural

7. Man vs. God/Religion

We, in fact, see all these themes in the Bible. We can see variations in our favorite books. Heck, I see at least three of these on my weekly shopping list (Man vs. Wallet).

We can even vary this theme further. Ronald Tobias is a screenwriter and has bisected this list into Twenty Basic Plots. Screenwriting, as you surely must know, is a different animal from novels (Novel vs. Screenplay) and therefore breaks it down to simple themes in order to pitch them (Giant Ape Terrorizes New York—the Rudy Guilliani Story). His plots are:

1. Quest—“the plot involves the Protagonist’s search for a person, place, or thing, tangible or intangible” The Noun’s Story. Or every Lord of the Ring’s story. In fact, every fantasy story is a quest plot. Yet Tobias further dissects this into the next entry...

2. Adventure—“this plot involves the Protagonist going in search of their fortune, and since fortune is never found at home, the Protagonist goes in search for it somewhere over the rainbow.” I don’t know about you, but this sounds like a Quest to me. This is a studio executive distinction, no doubt. Wizard of Oz could be characterized as an Adventure but it is also a Quest to find a way home.

3. PURSUIT – “this plot literally involves hide-and-seek, one person chasing another.” I suppose he means something like the The Fugitive or Catch Me if You Can.

4. RESCUE – “this plot involves the Protagonist searching for someone or something, usually consisting of three main characters - the Protagonist, the Victim & the Antagonist.” Speed, is one.

5. ESCAPE – “plot involves a Protagonist confined against their will who wants to escape (does not include some one trying to escape their personal demons).” The Great Escape, Escape from Alcatraz (I guess “Escape” in the title is a dead giveaway.)

6. REVENGE – “retaliation by Protagonist or Antagonist against the other for real or imagined injury.” Most martial arts movies

7. THE RIDDLE – “plot involves the Protagonist's search for clues to find the hidden meaning of something in question that is deliberately enigmatic or ambiguous.” The Da Vinci Code, searching for some depth.

8. RIVALRY – “plot involves Protagonist competing for same object or goal as another person (their rival).” It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, Tomb Raider which could also be adventure or quest. Who cares? As long as I can watch Daniel Craig...

9. UNDERDOG – “plot involves a Protagonist competing for an object or goal that is at a great disadvantage and is faced with overwhelming odds.” Every damn sports movie ever written.

10. TEMPTATION – “plot involves a Protagonist that for one reason or another is induced or persuaded to do something that is unwise, wrong or immoral.” Momento, but that's not exactly temptation per se. Kidnapped and Ransom, perhaps (talk about themes)

11. METAMORPHOSIS – “this plot involves the physical characteristics of the Protagonist actually changing from one form to another (reflecting their inner psychological identity).” Spider-Man, X-Men and any comic book hero story, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Werewolf movies. Hey, where’d that giant cockroach come from? What should we call that story?

12. TRANSFORMATION – “plot involves the process of change in the Protagonist as they journey through a stage of life that moves them from one significant character state to another.” Not to be confused with Metamorphosis. Although this should be a characteristic of all stories. Unless the point of your story is that your character will not change even with the circumstances.

13. MATURATION – “plot involves the Protagonist facing a problem that is part of growing up, and from dealing with it, emerging into a state of adulthood (going from innocence to experience).” Big. Adam Sandler need not apply.

14. LOVE – “plot involves the Protagonist overcoming the obstacles to love that keeps them from consummating (engaging in) true love.” Wondered when we’d get to this. I guess we can see what Tobias likes to write. Any light summer date comedy here. Or steamy love story. Or nastiness like Closer.

15. FORBIDDEN LOVE – “plot involves Protagonist(s) overcoming obstacles created by social mores and taboos to consummate their relationship (and sometimes finding it at too high a price to live with).” Moby Dick—a tender story about a man and his whale--just kidding.

16. SACRIFICE – “plot involves the Protagonist taking action(s) that is motivated by a higher purpose (concept) such as love, honor, charity or for the sake of humanity.” Romeo and Juliet, sword and sandals movies.

17. DISCOVERY – “plot that is the most character-centered of all, involves the Protagonist having to overcome an upheavel(s) in their life, and thereby discovering something important (and buried) within them a better understanding of life (i.e., better appreciation of their life, a clearer purpose in their life, etc.)” The Pursuit of Happyness, Cast Away.

18. WRETCHED EXCESS – “plot involves a Protagonist who, either by choice or by accident, pushes the limits of acceptable behavior to the extreme and is forced to deal with the consequences (generally deals with the psychological decline of the character).” Quentin Tarantino movies, Sin City.

19. ASCENSION – “rags-to-riches plot deals with the rise (success) of Protagonist due to a dominating character trait that helps them to succeed.” Harry Potter, Erin Brockovitch--together at last! There's a movie!

20. DECISION – “riches-to-rags plot deals with the fall (destruction) of Protagonist due to dominating character trait that eventually destroys their success.” Wall Street

Of course, a good story may have several of these elements interwoven throughout. There is no one theme in anyone’s life, after all, but mostly we are seeing only a slice of a life, at their worst point or their best or most triumphal. Variations on a theme.

Great post, Karr.

I've heard of these before, but this is a great reference.