What's on this page: 1. The 7 Elements of (nearly) All Stories2. There are only 7 Stories (it is claimed)
1. The 7 Elements of (nearly) All StoriesDid you know that all, okay, nearly all stories have to have the following ingredients. 1. Normality (1) This is where and when the story takes place. Another word for this is setting.2. The Hero This doesn't mean someone who is brave. It's just the person, or animal, or even thing at
the centre of the story.3. The Agent of Change This is the person or thing that changes things, which is called......4. The Disruption of Normality This could be a really bad thing, or something ordinary - but it changes the situation that the 'hero' finds him/herself in.5. A Problem Created Eg, an earthquake (the 'agent of change') makes people homeless.6. Problem Solved They build new houses (I know, not really an exciting story)7. Normality (2) Restored But a wee bit different to Normality (1)
2. There are only 7 Stories (it is claimed)It appears that we only have room for a limited number of plots in our stories. There are various theories and numbers, but often researchers come down to only seven. It seems like too few, but the items on the list fit any story you can think of. You can use these lists as a way of shaping a story or helping you finish a story if you are stuck.
(thanks to Google search for some of these ideas)
This list is the best I think.1. Overcoming the monster -- defeating some force which threatens...
e.g. most Hollywood movies; Star Wars, James Bond.
2. The Quest -- typically a group set off in search of something and
(usually) find it. e.g. Watership Down, Pilgrim's Progress.
3. Journey and Return -- the hero journeys away from home to somewhere
different and finally comes back having experienced something and
maybe changed for the better. e.g. Wizard of Oz, Gullivers Travels.
4. Comedy - not neccesarily a funny plot. Some kind of
misunderstanding or ignorance is created that keeps parties apart
which is resolved towards the end bringing them back together. e.g.
Bridget Jones Diary, War and Peace.
5. Tragedy - Someone is tempted in some way, vanity, greed etc and
becomes increasingly desperate or trapped by their actions until at a
climax they usually die. Unless it's a Hollywood movie, when they
escape to a happy ending. e.g. Devils' Advocate, Hamlet.
6. Rebirth - hero is captured or oppressed and seems to be in a state
of living death until it seems all is lost when miraculously they are
freed. e.g. Snow White.
7. Rags to Riches - self explanatory really. e.g. Cinderella &
derivatives (all 27,000 of them)!!!
Here's another set:1 - man vs. nature
2 - man vs. man
3 - man vs. the environment
4 - man vs. machines/technology
5 - man vs. the supernatural
6 - man vs. self
7 - man vs. god/religion
And another set goes something like this:
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.
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