The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell StoriesThis remarkable and monumental book at last provides a comprehensive answer to the age-old riddle of whether there are only a small number of 'basic stories' in the world. Using a wealth of examples, from ancient myths and folk tales via the plays and novels of great literature to the popular movies and TV soap operas of today, it shows that there are seven archetypal themes which recur throughout every kind of storytelling. But this is only the prelude to an investigation into how and why we are 'programmed' to imagine stories in these ways, and how they relate to the inmost patterns of human psychology. Drawing on a vast array of examples, from Proust to detective stories, from the Marquis de Sade to E.T., Christopher Booker then leads us through the extraordinary changes in the nature of storytelling over the past 200 years, and why so many stories have 'lost the plot' by losing touch with their underlying archetypal purpose. Booker analyses why evolution has given us the need to tell stories and illustrates how storytelling has provided a uniquely revealing mirror to mankind's psychological development over the past 5000 years. This seminal book opens up in an entirely new way our understanding of the real purpose storytelling plays in our lives, and will be a talking point for years to come. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 68
Page 4
... dream - like success . Macbeth becomes king ; Humbert embarks on his affair with the bewitch- ing Lolita ; Jules and ... stage ' when all seems to be going unbelievably well , to the ' frustration stage ' when things begin to go ...
... dream - like success . Macbeth becomes king ; Humbert embarks on his affair with the bewitch- ing Lolita ; Jules and ... stage ' when all seems to be going unbelievably well , to the ' frustration stage ' when things begin to go ...
Page 38
... ( Dream Stage ) : Bond has first brushes with the ' monster's ' agents or even the ' monster ' himself , in which he is victorious ( he catches Goldfinger or Drax cheating at cards or golf ) . There may be attacks on his life , but he ...
... ( Dream Stage ) : Bond has first brushes with the ' monster's ' agents or even the ' monster ' himself , in which he is victorious ( he catches Goldfinger or Drax cheating at cards or golf ) . There may be attacks on his life , but he ...
Page 40
... stages: 1. Anticipation Stage: Curiosity is aroused by reports from various parts of the world of 'mysterious fireballs' seen at sea. 2. Dream Stage: Rather more serious incidents take place, such as the unex- plained sinkings of ...
... stages: 1. Anticipation Stage: Curiosity is aroused by reports from various parts of the world of 'mysterious fireballs' seen at sea. 2. Dream Stage: Rather more serious incidents take place, such as the unex- plained sinkings of ...
Page 42
... dream - like curiosity leads first to frustration , then to a nightmare ... stage ' begins when Quatermass realises that most human beings are still ... stage pattern of all these stories is only too familiar . As each of them begins with ...
... dream - like curiosity leads first to frustration , then to a nightmare ... stage ' begins when Quatermass realises that most human beings are still ... stage pattern of all these stories is only too familiar . As each of them begins with ...
Page 43
... phase of the story , the hero and his companions seem to enjoy a mag- ical immunity to danger : the ' Dream Stage . But we are reminded of the dark real- ity prevailing elsewhere , as we glimpse the Princess being subjected by Vader to ...
... phase of the story , the hero and his companions seem to enjoy a mag- ical immunity to danger : the ' Dream Stage . But we are reminded of the dark real- ity prevailing elsewhere , as we glimpse the Princess being subjected by Vader to ...
Contents
1 | |
15 | |
THE COMPLETE HAPPY ENDING | 237 |
MISSING THE MARK | 345 |
WHY WE TELL STORIES | 541 |
The Light and the Shadows on the Wall | 699 |
Authors Personal Note | 703 |
Glossary of Terms | 707 |
Bibliography | 711 |
Index of Stories Cited | 715 |
General Index | 720 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Aladdin Amleth anima Anna Karenina archetypal arrives beautiful become begins central figure centre century characters Comedy comes complete consciousness Creon Dark Father dark feminine dark figure dark masculine dark power Dark Rival death developed Don Giovanni Dream Stage egocentric egotism emerge eventually everything familiar fantasy film finally girl goal Hamlet happens happy ending heart hero and heroine hero or heroine human imagination inner James Bond Jane Eyre journey killed king kingdom liberated light lives look Macbeth married Moby Dick mother murder mysterious nature Nightmare Stage novel obsession Odysseus Oedipus ordeals Overcoming the Monster pattern play plot Princess Quest Rags to Riches realise recognise represents role seems seen sense shadow storytelling symbolic symbolised Teiresias tells Theseus thing Tragedy transformation true turn type of story ultimately uncon unconscious values Voyage and Return whole wife Wise Old woman young