It' s been said many times that there are only "seven main plots" in
all of literature. What ARE those seven plots??? Can I get a list of
the seven basic situations or storylines?
Hello there
1 basic plot - 3 basic plots - 7 basic plots - 20 basic plots - 36
basic plots
All of these seem to have have good reasonings going for them. I
guess it just depends on how detailed you want to make a basic plot.
According to Jessamyn West, an IPL volunteer librarian, the seven
basic plots are:
1 - [wo]man vs. nature
2 - [wo]man vs. man
3 - [wo]man vs. the environment
4 - [wo]man vs. machines/technology
5 - [wo]man vs. the supernatural
6 - [wo]man vs. self
7 - [wo]man vs. god/religion
You can find that list along with the others here:
http://www.ipl.org/div/farq/plotFARQ.html - The Internet Public
Library
Additional information about the above list:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/001124.html - The Straight Dope:
What are the seven basic literary plots?
There are also claims made that there are seven basic needs to a story
line. So I thought I would add them. This is called trying to fill
up the page since the direct answer to your question is so short that
my fellow researchers will climb all over me for not giving anough
answer for the money. I also double spaced the list to try and
stretch things a bit.
It is amazing what peer pressure can do.
1. A hero – the person through whose eyes we see the story unfold, set
against a larger background.
2. The hero’s character flaw – a weakness or defense mechanism that
hinders the hero in such a way as to render him/her incomplete.
3. Enabling circumstances – the surroundings the hero is in at the
beginning of the story, which allow the hero to maintain his/her
character flaw.
4. An opponent – someone who opposes the hero in getting or doing what
he/she wants. Not always a villain. For example, in a romantic comedy,
the opponent could be the man or woman whom the hero seeks romance
with. The opponent is the person who instigates the life-changing
event.
5. The hero’s ally – the person who spends the most time with the hero
and who helps the hero overcome his/her character flaw.
6. The life-changing event – a challenge, threat or opportunity
usually instigated by the opponent, which forces the hero to respond
in some way that’s related to the hero’s flaw.
7. Jeopardy – the high stakes that the hero must risk to overcome
his/her flaw. These are the dramatic events that lend excitement and
challenge to the quest.
search - Google
terms - seven basic plots, seven basic story lines, 7 basic plots, 7
basic story lines
Please note: - I double spaced between search and terms as well.
If I may clarify anything, please ask.
Cheers
digsalot
Just as an additional side note, here is some more detail about the
list of 36. One of our more colorful researchers (mostly pink)
thought it would be a good addition.
Cheers again
It would also help if I put the link.
http://www.sff.net/people/julia.west/CALLIHOO/ideagen2.htm
 Walking/Running Puppy - Advise needed
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The Seven Main Plots in All of Literature = ???