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 72
Page
... Overcoming the Monster RAGS TO RICHES THE QUEST EIERSTEIN VOYAGE AND RETURN COMEDY TRAGEDY REBIRTH CERTERARY NOVELS AVERLEY 이 CHRISTOPHER BOOKER BLOOMSBURY THE SEVEN BASIC PLOTS Why we tell stories. Cover.
... Overcoming the Monster RAGS TO RICHES THE QUEST EIERSTEIN VOYAGE AND RETURN COMEDY TRAGEDY REBIRTH CERTERARY NOVELS AVERLEY 이 CHRISTOPHER BOOKER BLOOMSBURY THE SEVEN BASIC PLOTS Why we tell stories. Cover.
Page vii
... Overcoming the Monster .............................................................................. 21 2 The Monster (II) and the Thrilling Escape From Death ............................ 31 3 Rags to Riches ...
... Overcoming the Monster .............................................................................. 21 2 The Monster (II) and the Thrilling Escape From Death ............................ 31 3 Rags to Riches ...
Page 5
... overcoming of a ' monster ' , like Jaws or Beowulf , in which our interest centres on the threat posed by some monstrous figure of evil , who is then chal- lenged by the hero and finally , after a climactic battle , killed . There were ...
... overcoming of a ' monster ' , like Jaws or Beowulf , in which our interest centres on the threat posed by some monstrous figure of evil , who is then chal- lenged by the hero and finally , after a climactic battle , killed . There were ...
Page 19
... take to their ultimate destination. It is at the most important of these underlying shapes or 'basic plots' that we must now look. Chapter 1 Overcoming the Monster 'Legends of the slaughter of 19 PROLOGUE TO PART ONE.
... take to their ultimate destination. It is at the most important of these underlying shapes or 'basic plots' that we must now look. Chapter 1 Overcoming the Monster 'Legends of the slaughter of 19 PROLOGUE TO PART ONE.
Page 21
Why We Tell Stories Christopher Booker. Chapter. 1. Overcoming. the. Monster. 'Legends of the slaughter of a destructive monster are to be found all over the world. The thought underlying them all is that the monster slain is preter- ...
Why We Tell Stories Christopher Booker. Chapter. 1. Overcoming. the. Monster. 'Legends of the slaughter of a destructive monster are to be found all over the world. The thought underlying them all is that the monster slain is preter- ...
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 |
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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