The Seven Basic Plot Definitions and Five forms of Conflict

The Seven Basic Plot Definitions

In all literature, games, film, novels, anything that contains a story, there are seven basic formulas of story that almost every narrative adheres to. They can be combined, but they are still a stable feature of all literature.

The Quest
The main character is sent off on a quest that spans the entire story, they are set a goal and they follow it throughout, having various struggles on the way. Lord of the Rings and lot of other Fantasy follows this type.


Voyage and Return
In this story type, the main character sets off on a quest like voyage and then returns to where they began. Tolkien's The Hobbit follows this structure and even has the subtitle "there and back again". LOTR also follows this with the Scouring of the Shire chapter at the end where some of the characters return home to find it changed and destroyed.

Comedy
Often non serious, but can have dark undertones.

Tragedy
A character (usually of high status) makes poor decisions unwittingly to the point of their downfall. The most famous of which being Macbeth, a modern version could be Breaking Bad

Rebirth
Character goes through either a literal or metaphorical change, and their personality or physical form changes forever. A Clockwork Orange, Robocop

Overcoming the Monster
Character has to overcome a monster, or even personal demons as a metaphorical monster. Trainspotting,

Rags to Riches
Character starts out with nothing, and goes on to become a great hero or very wealthy. Scarface, Breaking Bad,

Five forms of Conflict

Character against Character

One character faces off against another, normally they have diametrically opposed goals and philosophies. A tale of good versus evil often pits the good character against the evil character. (Jude Law and Ed Harris' characters in Enemy at the Gates)

Character Struggling against self

A character goes through their own internal demons in a struggle against themselves, usually as a result of something they have done in the past. Any story with atonement as being a major theme probably fits this.

Character against Nature

The character must battle against beasts or the elements in order to overcome the issue and complete their goal. (any disaster movie)

Character against Society

The character competes against a system of governance or the attitudes of society with regard to them to overcome their problems. (1984, Brave New World)

Character against Fantasy/Supernatural/Technology 
Any form of science fiction or fantasy, with the character having to overcome some form of supernatural beast, or highly advanced alien race. (Independence Day,