The 7 Types of Stories Explained

Screenwriting is an art that dips its quill in the inkwell of human experience, crafting narratives that resonate across the breadth of human emotion and imagination. Central to this art are story archetypes, the basic narrative designs that have endured through ages and across cultures. These archetypes are the scaffolds on which the flesh of plot, character, and theme are built. By understanding these primal narratives, screenwriters can create stories that echo with universal appeal.

Let’s delve into the diverse world of story archetypes, exploring their essence, and how they shape the stories we love and remember.

1. The Hero’s Journey: The Hero’s Journey is a narrative archetype that revolves around the protagonist’s quest. This archetype, delineated by Joseph Campbell, encapsulates the hero’s departure from the familiar, encounter with transformative trials, and the eventual triumphant return.

2. Overcoming The Monster: In this archetype, the hero faces a great evil or monstrous antagonist, and the narrative centers on the confrontation and ultimate vanquishment of this menace, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.

3. Rags to Riches: The Rags to Riches archetype encapsulates a protagonist’s rise from obscurity to prominence, tackling adversity and growing through the challenges to achieve success or self-realization.

4. The Quest: This narrative involves a hero embarking on a journey to obtain a cherished goal, facing and overcoming challenges along the way, usually accompanied by a group of comrades with complementary abilities.

5. Voyage and Return: Here, the protagonist ventures into an unknown world, faces trials, and returns transformed. Unlike The Quest, the emphasis is on the hero’s transformation rather than the goal.

6. Comedy: The comedy archetype centers on creating a narrative imbued with humor, often exploring human folly, societal norms, or misunderstandings, leading to humorous resolutions.

7. Tragedy: Tragedy archetypes focus on dark themes and the protagonist’s downfall, eliciting empathy, fear, or catharsis from the audience, often exploring the human condition’s harsher realities.

8. Rebirth: The rebirth narrative revolves around the protagonist’s moral or spiritual revival, usually catalyzed by a form of redemption or realization.

Understanding these story archetypes provides screenwriters with a sturdy foundation upon which to build complex, engaging narratives. By appreciating the timeless appeal these archetypes possess, writers can craft stories that not only entertain but resonate on a profound, universal level, continuing the age-old tradition of storytelling that binds humanity together through shared experience and imagination.

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Treading the Time-Tested Path: Archetypes in Screenplays and Hollywood

The magic of Hollywood lies in its ability to create worlds, stir emotions, and etch characters and tales in the collective consciousness of audiences worldwide. At the heart of this magic are time-tested story archetypes, which, despite their ancient roots, continue to form the backbone of many modern screenplays. The reason is simple: these archetypes resonate with fundamental human experiences, emotions, and aspirations.

1. The Hero’s Journey in “Star Wars” and “The Lord of the Rings”: Hollywood has long been enamored with the Hero’s Journey. Films like “Star Wars” and “The Lord of the Rings” are classic embodiments of this archetype, showcasing the protagonist’s transformative journey fraught with challenges, allies, and adversaries.

2. Overcoming The Monster in “Jaws” and “Jurassic Park”: The visceral fear and exhilaration of battling a menacing foe have been masterfully depicted in movies like “Jaws” and “Jurassic Park,” where humanity’s fight against terrifying creatures keeps audiences on the edge of their seats.

3. Rags to Riches in “Slumdog Millionaire” and “The Pursuit of Happyness”: The enduring appeal of an underdog rising against all odds is at the heart of movies like “Slumdog Millionaire” and “The Pursuit of Happyness,” portraying triumph over adversity and the fulfillment of dreams.

4. The Quest in “Indiana Jones” and “Harry Potter” Series: The adventurous spirit of the quest archetype shines in franchises like “Indiana Jones” and “Harry Potter,” where characters embark on perilous journeys towards a coveted goal.

5. Voyage and Return in “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Wizard of Oz”: The transformative voyage into the unknown is beautifully rendered in films like “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Wizard of Oz,” where the protagonists return, having gained profound insights.

6. Comedy in “Some Like It Hot” and “Dumb and Dumber”: Comedy, with its light-hearted exploration of life’s quirks, finds expression in films like “Some Like It Hot” and “Dumb and Dumber,” inducing laughter and reflection on human follies.

7. Tragedy in “Titanic” and “Requiem for a Dream”: The gut-wrenching impact of tragedy is powerfully depicted in “Titanic” and “Requiem for a Dream,” leaving audiences with haunting reflections on loss and the human condition.

8. Rebirth in “The Shawshank Redemption” and “A Christmas Carol”: The narrative of rebirth and redemption is poignantly portrayed in “The Shawshank Redemption” and “A Christmas Carol,” inspiring hope and the possibility of change.

In weaving these ageless archetypes into the fabric of modern storytelling, Hollywood continues to captivate audiences, proving the enduring power and appeal of these foundational narrative structures. Through skillful interpretation and innovative rendering, screenwriters and filmmakers keep these ancient narrative blueprints alive and relevant, creating cinematic magic that continues to echo across the silver screen.