Master Plots — Part 1

In a prior thread “Similar but different — Part 1,” I noted in the comments I had some background material on a variety of storylines. In this post, ten different plots courtesy of author Ronald Tobias and his book “20 Master Plots (And How to Build Them).”

1. QUEST
Where the object of the quest means everything to the Protagonist
A quest plot should be about a search for a person, place, or thing
The object of the plot is the hero’s wisdom
 Don Quixote
 Grapes of Wrath
 The Wizard of Oz

2. ADVENTURE
Quest plot is a character plot / Adventure plot is an action plot
 Quest plot is about the hero transformation / Adventure plot is journey itself
The object of the plot is the hero seeking fortune
 Indiana Jones
 The Mummy
 Robinson Cruesoe

3. PURSUIT
 Fox and house, hide and seek, playing tag
One character chases another, pursuer and pursued
 Jaws
 Terminator
 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
4. RESCUE
Hero’s pursuit of victim and defeat the Nemesis
These stories must have a character triangle
 Ransom
 In the Line of Fire
 The Princess Bride

5. ESCAPE
Plot concentrates energy on mechanics of capture and escape
The Protagonist is almost always imprisoned unjustly
 Stalag 17
 The Great Escape
 Papillon

6. REVENGE
Retaliation by Protagonist against the Nemesis for real or imagined injury
A plot grounded in the emotion of injustice
 Death Wish
 Sudden Impact
 Hamlet

7. THE RIDDLE
 Your basic whodunit
 Ten Little Indians
 Basic Instinct
 The Maltese Falcon

8. RIVALRY
 Struggle for power between Protagonist and Nemesis
Irresistible force meets immovable object
 Lord of the Flies
 Tin Men
 Grumpy Old Men

9. UNDERDOG
Rivalry plot with mismatch in power between Protagonist and Nemesis
Represents one over many, small over large, weak over powerful
 Joan of Arc
 One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
 Remember the Titans

10. TEMPTATION
The frailty of human nature
Character plot depending on morality and effects of giving into temptation
 Fatal Attraction
 Lolita
 Psycho

Clearly, there is some overlap here between some of these ‘plots.’ Plus, many movies have more than one plot element. In another post, I’ll provide overviews of 10 other “master” plot identified by Tobias. Then we can discuss whether any of this has any value for your writing process.