7 Basic Plots or Stories
- Overcoming the Monster: The protagonist sets out to defeat an antagonistic force which threatens the protagonist and/or protagonist's homeland. Examples: James Bond, Star Wars, Perseus, etc.
- Rebirth: The protagonist is a villain or otherwise unlikeable, and redeems him/herself over the course of the story. Examples: The Frog Prince, The Secret Garden, Despicable Me, etc.
- Rags To Riches: The poor protagonist acquires things such as power, wealth, and a mate, before loosing it all and gaining it back upon growing as a person. Examples: Cinderella, Jane Eyre, Aladdin, Great Expectations, etc.
- Quest: The protagonist and some companions set out to acquire an important object or to get to a location, facing many obstacles and temptations along the way. Examples: Lord Of The Rings, Harry Potter, The Wizard of Oz, Iliad, etc.
- Voyage // Return: The protagonist goes to a strange land and, after overcoming the threats it poses to him/her, returns with nothing but experience. Examples: Alice in Wonderland, The Time Machine, Gone With The Wind, etc.
- Comedy: Light and humorous character with a happy or cheerful ending; a dramatic work in which the central motif is the triumph over adverse circumstance, resulting in a successful or happy conclusion. Examples: Much Ado About Nothing, Music and Lyrics, Mr Bean, etc.
- Tragedy: The protagonist is a villain who falls from grace and whose death is a happy ending. Examples: Macbeth, Bonnie and Clyde, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, etc.
Why Tell Stories?
- We've done it for thousands of years
- We're obsessed with storytelling - Everyone has a favorite movie or book.
- We need help making sense of the world
- We want entertainment
- We want to change the world
- We want to record history
Tools For Storytelling
- Written word
- Performance
- Music
- Photography
- Motion Picture