what are the seven basic plots?

Question

people mention them and i dont know what theyre talking about
i mean i have some ideas of what they are any help would be great!

Answer 1

I have heard variations on "boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl back." There are also teh "impossible missions," Mission Impossible, Guns of Navarone, Dirty Dozen; "bum makes good," Rocky, Mighty Ducks; the "quest," The Searchers, Lord of teh Rings; and so on. This may not be exactly what you meant, but the price is right.

Answer 2

According to Jessamyn West, an IPL (Internet Public Library) volunteer librarian, the seven basic plots are:
1 - [wo]man vs. nature

2 - [wo]man vs. man

3 - [wo]man vs. the environment
4 - [wo]man vs. machines/technology

5 - [wo]man vs. the supernatural

6 - [wo]man vs. self

7 - [wo]man vs. god/religion

There are also claims made that there are seven basic needs to a story line.

1. A hero – the person through whose eyes we see the story unfold, set against a larger background.

2. The hero’s character flaw – a weakness or defense mechanism that hinders the hero in such a way as to render him/her incomplete.

3. Enabling circumstances – the surroundings the hero is in at the
beginning of the story, which allow the hero to maintain his/her
character flaw.

4. An opponent – someone who opposes the hero in getting or doing what he/she wants. Not always a villain. For example, in a romantic comedy, the opponent could be the man or woman whom the hero seeks romance with. The opponent is the person who instigates the life-changing event.

5. The hero’s ally – the person who spends the most time with the hero and who helps the hero overcome his/her character flaw.

6. The life-changing event – a challenge, threat or opportunity
usually instigated by the opponent, which forces the hero to respond in some way that’s related to the hero’s flaw.

7. Jeopardy – the high stakes that the hero must risk to overcome
his/her flaw. These are the dramatic events that lend excitement andchallenge to the quest.