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Lv 4
? asked in Arts & HumanitiesBooks & Authors · 1 decade ago

What are the seven basic plots in literature?

I've asked this before, but I never got a clear answer, so I'm trying again.

All my life I've heard that there are only seven basic plots in storytelling; only seven basic plots that every story falls into. I was wondering if this was true, and if so, what are they? Also, could I get some examples of each plot point, maybe a book or story that falls under each one.

And for clarification, I'm not talking about genres, I'm talking about the basic plots, the essence that the story boils down to. I say this because the last time I asked this someone gave me a list of genres.

Thanks a lot, I love to expand my knowledge of literature.

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  • Glissade
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Man v. Nature

    Man v. Man

    Man v. Environment

    Man v. Technology

    Man v. Supernatural

    Man v. God

    Man v. Self

    (Of course, man can also be "woman")

  • Cher
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    The Seven Basic Plots, according to The Seven Basic Plots by Christopher Booker, are:

    - "Overcoming the Monster" - Basically any protagonist vs. another character/thing (this includes nature, gods, and even some inner monsters) where the protagonist wins.

    - "Rags to Riches" - Cinderella story

    - "The Quest" - Show me a fantasy, sci-fi, or adventure novel that is not searching for a macguffin.

    - "Voyage & Return" - Odessey and Alice in Wonderland [old school version] are classic examples.

    - "Comedy [of Errors]" - Well, Shakspeare's Comedy of Errors, or basically any romance or idiot plot in which those invovled just can't spit out the truth.

    - "Tragedy" - The main character's downfall.

    - "Rebirth/Redemption" - The redemption of the main character who's falling to the dark side.

    Source(s): TVTropes does it again in more detail: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheSeve...
  • agilebrit
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    I can think of four:

    Man vs Man

    Man vs Nature

    Man vs Himself

    Man vs God

    "Man" meaning "protagonist," basically. I can't think of anything I've ever read that doesn't fall into one of those categories, when broken down to its most fundamental basics.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Romance-y

    Action-y

    Mystery-y

    Horror-y

    Fantasy-y

    Erotica-y

    Kids-y

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  • David
    1 decade ago

    lanaguge,violence, nudity(only three)

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