I feel
there are certain motifs or patterns that tend to recur in one form or another
throughout world literature. Below, I have listed a number of most identifiable
ones.
The Battle
The Quest.
The Voyage
and the Return Home.
The Hero
hidden as the Monster.
The Divided
Self.
The Engagement
with the Dark Power
The Fatal
Flaw.
The Journey
from Rags to Riches.
The Voyage
to the Underworld.
The Battle
A Love
Story.
The Revenge
Drama.
Adventure Stories.
Weakling turned into Superhero.
The Chase.
Entry into a New World .
Encounter with a Strange Creature.
One Man Against Society.
One Apart
Many
writers combine several types of plots
and create a new plot. This is one idea I try to follow: combining bits from
different plots and trying to make it
unique by giving it my own individualistic touch. Can you think of more plot
patterns? What kind of a plot pattern does your book fall into?
This reminds me of The Seven Basic Plots by Christopher Booker. Have you read it, Rachna? If not I do recommend. Hugs..
ReplyDeleteInformative post, Rachna. Thanks for sharing. It will be very handy for novice writers like me.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with you, Rachna. It is important to build your own story, using the themes and ideas that work for you, even though those ideas are not necessarily "new".
ReplyDeleteThe story I'm writing now... hmmm
The Chase
Battle with the monster
Encounter with a strange creature
... maybe :)
I like your list.
ReplyDeleteI've heard there are 7 basic story plots.
See: http://scribbleandedit.blogspot.com/2010/10/story-types.html
There's the rebirth one, comedy and tragedy too :O)
@ Carole...thanks. I have not read that book by Christopher Booker. I will try and get it. Hugs back.
ReplyDelete@ Tina...Glad you found it useful.
@ Ken..your combination of plots sound pretty interesting.
@ Madeleine....I too have heard that there are 3 and some say 7 basic story plots.
I suppose most of my work falls into "The Battle with Self", something portrayed through a series of vignettes and periods of introspection....gosh, that's a lot like my real life :)
ReplyDeleteRachna,
ReplyDeleteLike you I combine several plots. Mostly, it's the quest, a fatal flaw and a love story combined. There always seems to be a bit of a battle between good and evil too.
From the get go, I modeled my book off of the Heroes Journey, The Second is the Tragedy, and the third is Redemption/Revenge.
ReplyDeleteHow does this trilogy stand out from the millions of others? Time Travel and Steampunk is one. Also I threw in Romance and Comedy. The Fatal Flaw is in there as well.
I think the Engagement of the Dark Power best fits my current WIP; in my last there were elements of the Hero Hidden as the Monster.
ReplyDeleteGreat list!
This is a good breakdown. Thanks for sharing it! I agree; there really aren't any new plots, just variations and a fresh infusion of characters and details.
ReplyDeleteI guess I always have a divided self. For YA, I like having a love story. There's always some good triumphing over evil.
ReplyDeleteGreat Post, Rachna. It sure helps people like us who are not familiar with the different kinds of plots.
ReplyDeleteWell, when they say nothing original is left someone inevitably comes up with something new:) Luv the pics by the way!
ReplyDeleteMine would be an Adventure Story mixed with an Entry into a New World.
ReplyDeleteGreat List!
This one is going to help me a lot...thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMankind not ready to properly steward something new and powerful. Enter greed and incompetence.
ReplyDeleteOoo...now that has got me thinking! Great list!
ReplyDelete