Booker's Seven Basic Plots

Booker’s Seven Basic Plots
The basic premise to the basic

plots:
Christopher Booker argues that all
storytelling is woven around basic plots and
archetypes that are inescapable and help to
define the human condition. We are
psychologically programmed to tell stories
in a way that reflects our most basic
physiological needs.
The plots are:
Overcoming the Monster
Rags to Riches
The Quest
Voyage and Return
Comedy
Tragedy
Rebirth
#1: Overcoming the Monster
Essence of the plot:
A community falls under the shadow of an evil power
(more on this later).
The monster threatens destruction, often has in its
possession a great prize -- treasure or a “Princess”
The hero, often armed with a magic weapon, must
confront the monster, usually near its lair.
Hero makes a thrilling escape from death, slays the
monster, inherits the prize and the kingdom.
Epic of Gilgamesh
James Bond novels and
films
Many tales in Greek
mythology (Perseus,
Theseus)
Dragon slayer stories
Gothic novels:
Frankenstein, Dracula
#2: Rags to Riches
Rags to Riches
The plot is rooted in folk tales from around
the world and is regarded as one of the most
basic stories in the world.
Rags to Riches: the hero or
heroine
We are introduced to the central figure in
childhood, or at least before full maturity. We
know immediately that the story is about the
process of growing up.
The hero or heroine is usually inferior: an orphan,
or the youngest child and disregarded by family
and peers.
They languish in the shadows of a dominant,
antagonistic “dark” figure, frequently an adult.
Rags to Riches
Legend of King Arthur
Pygmalion/My Fair Lady
The Ugly Duckling
Aladdin
This plot is one of the

earliest we come to know
as children.
Rags to Riches: the central crisis
Early on the story, the inferior hero experiences
some success and is elevated from his original
lowly status.
However, these changes in fortune are superficial,
and soon the hero encounters a CENTRAL
CRISIS in which all seems lost. (Ex: Jane Eyre’s
failed attempt at marriage, and her subsequent
desperate wandering around the moors.)
#3: The Quest
Essence of the plot
Far away, there is a priceless goal, worth
any effort to achieve: a treasure, a promised
land, something of infinite value. The hero
sets out on a hazardous journey to attain the
goal and overcomes any number of perilous
hindrances in order to achieve the objective.
The Quest
Arthurian/Grail
legends
Dante’s Divine
Comedy
Homer’s Odyssey
The Lord of the Rings
Indiana Jones movies
#4: Voyage and Return
Voyage and Return: essence of
the plot
The hero or heroine travels out of their
familiar, everyday “normal” surroundings
into another world completely cut off from
the first, where everything seems abnormal.
The early experience might feel
exhilarating, but eventually a shadow
intrudes. By a “thrilling escape” the hero is
returned to his normal world.
Voyage and Return
Goldilocks and the
Three Bears
Alice in Wonderland
The Time Machine
Robinson Crusoe
Prodigal Son parable
from the Bible
Gone with the Wind
#5: Comedy
Comedy: a history
Etymology of “comedy”: a banquet, a
jovial festivity, a festal procession
Many of the conventions of the comedy
plot have scarcely changed in 2,000 years
Comedy: a history
“Old Comedy”
The plays of Aristophanes, performed between 425 and
388 BC
At heart of his comedies lay an agon, or conflict, b/w
two characters or two groups of characters
One side is life-giving, the other side life-denying
(freedom vs. oppression)
The losing side (always the meanies) is suddenly forced
to recognize something so important about themselves
that it changes their ways and leads to reconciliation.
Comedy: a history
“New Comedy”
Biggest mutation is that comedy became a love
story
Central characters are a hero and heroine; the
purpose of the confusion or conflict in the story
is to keep the two apart until they are brought
triumphantly together in the closing scenes
Comedy: Examples
A Midsummer’s Night Dream
Much Ado about Nothing
Pride and Prejudice
Emma
The Hangover
#6: Tragedy
Tragedy :
Usually centers around a character of high

status who is forced into a situation where
he/she is downtrodden and the important
things in life are taken from him/her.
Often this is used as a starting point leading
to revenge, justice, enlightenment,
liberation, etc.
Tragedy : Examples
Macbeth
Hamlet
Goodfellas
The Godfather
Tragedy : Hero as Villian
Some tragedies can end on a note of solemn

rejoicing because the hero/life-denying
monster has been destroyed, and life can
begin to flow again.
“Ultimately the destruction of the dark hero
has been a victory for light.”
#7: Rebirth
Rebirth: synopsis
A hero or heroine falls under a dark spell which
eventually traps them in some wintry state, akin to
living death: physical or spiritual imprisonment,
sleep, sickness or some other form of
enchantment. For a long time they languish in this
frozen condition Then a miraculous act of
redemption takes place, focused on a particular
figure who helps liberate the hero or heroine from
imprisonment.
Rebirth: examples
Beauty and the Beast
A Christmas Carol
Star Wars
The End! Woohoo!

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Booker’s Seven Basic Plots

The basic premise to the basic

This plot is one of the

Usually centers around a character of high

Some tragedies can end on a note of solemn

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