How many different types of story?

[theFijian]

In fiction how many different types of story would you say there are?

eg, Hero, quest, revenge, etc

cheers

 

[NavyGuy7]

Don't forget Tragic, Epic, Dramatic, Fantasy (my fave!), Sci-Fi, blah blah blah blah blah.... and fictional historical!

 

[theFijian]

Aren't fantasy and sci-fi more a genre than a story type? I mean couldn't you have a sci-fi quest story and a fantasy quest story? The reason I ask is that ages ago I remember reading an article somewhere about how all stories/narritives could be distilled down into variations of a relatively small number (6 or 7 I think) of distinct story types, ie. the quest story, the revenge story, the hero story etc. For the life of me though I can't find the original article and I can't find anything similar online.

 

[Lessien]

Yeah....historical fiction, sci-fi and fantasy are all genres. As for types of story, there aren't that many. Let's see....like you said, there's Heroic, Revenge, Quest, Tragic, Epic, and Romantic. Now, romance is also a genre, but I said it was a story type because you can have a fantasy romance, a historical fiction romance, a sci-fi romance, etc.

 

[theFijian]

Ah right I uncovered the stuff I was looking for although the numbers seem to vary widely:

The 36 dramatic situations
20 basic plots
8 archetypal narratives
7 main plots
The 'Basic' plots in literature

Or the single plot type from which all are derived: a bunch of stuff happens

 

[Lessien]

Or the single plot type from which all are derived: a bunch of stuff happens

 

[MrBF1V3]

You can drive yourself insane trying to figure out the different themes, or plots, or dramatic situations. (BTW-I have read the 36, but I don't remember most of it. I must have been sleep reading.) And then someone like me will come along and try to come up with one which doesn't fit the mold.

Although, Lessien, the story where nothing really happens, it wasn't very good.

For my part, I just write stories. I'll let the critics figure out how to classify what I've written.

B5

 

[Lessien]

.

Although, Lessien, the story where nothing really happens, it wasn't very good.

Wait--huh? Sorry, I kinda don't know what you're talking about....Oh! You mean the one for the contest thingy months ago? Yeah, it's not my best. It was kind of an impulse thing, and when it was done I went "What the heck? Why not enter it?"

 

[MrBF1V3]

I wasn't taking a dig at you Lessien--just speaking in general. --though I think I've written a chapter or two where nothing really happens, just time passes. (and word count increases.)

 

[Lessien]

Oh yeah. I wasn't offended, don't worry.

 

[kevin36]

Differant types of stories?

Some say only one- character driven. If it isn't for the characters, the story, no matter how interesting everything else is, dies.

That's usually true, but as with everything else there has to be an exception to the rule...

What about The Sentinel? Considered to be one of the greatest short stories ever, but there isn't a single character, unless a monument standing alone on the moon could be considered such. If so, then there realy is only one kind of story.

K

 

[sunstruckdream]

Never heard of the Sentinel...I'll have to check that out. Author?

 

[theFijian]

If so, then there realy is only one kind of story.

K

The "something happens" story? (you did read the rest of the thread didn't you?)