Every drama, documentary, entertainment, news and reality television series uses a story to communicate. To tell a story they all use narrative devices.
Christopher Booker argues that all stories can be broken down into 7 main plot lines:
- Tragedy-
- Comedy
- Overcoming the monster
- Voyage and return
- Quest
- Rags to riches
- Rebirth
Tragedy- usually concerns a hero with a fatal floor which causes a tragic ending. Examples such as Achilles and Macbeth. The tragic hero gets 'committed to his course of action.'
Examples of television tragedy drama plot lines-
- Madmen
- Shadowline
- Eastenders
- Red Riding.
Comedy- always a happy ending, typically of romantic fulfillment. Usually involves a hero down on their luck, looking for love in some shape or form. The hero and heroine are destined to be together but a dark force is preventing them from doing so. The story conspires to make the dark force repent and then the hero and heroine are free to get together.
Example of television comedy drama plot lines-
- Friends
- Scrubs
- Gavin and Stacey
- The Office
- Dr who
- Supernatural
- The Big C
- Deal or No Deal
Voyage and return- follows archetypal structure of personal development through leaving and then returning. The hero usually enters a time/place/land that they don't understand and must overcome hurdles, villians, before succeeding and returning 'home'. About going on a journey of discovery.
Examples of television voyage and return plot lines:
- Secret Millionaire
- Supernanny
- Wife- Swap
- Undercover Boss
Quest- enables for a large sweeping story and great characters. It allows for you to on a journey to get something (have a focus.) Usually requires the hero to have team or companions with them to help.
Examples of television quest plot lines:
- Total wipe out
- The Cube
Rags to Riches- the riches can be either literal or metophorical. the hero will go from rags to riches which is mirrored by the protagonist who moves in the opposite direction. A coming of age version would have rags to riches replaced by immaturity and maturity.
Examples of Rags to Riches plot lines:
- Forrest Gump
- Pursuit of Happiness
- Only Fools and Horses
- Weakest Link
- Makeover Shows
Re-Birth- the central character finds a new reason for living and turns their life around. It can be seen as a more optimistic form of Tragedy in which the villian spirals into evil and then at the last minute raises their head and gets pulled out by a redeeming figure.
Examples of Re-birth plot lines:
- Eastenders
- Trainspotting
- Secret Millionaire
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