Narrative and Genre: The Story of Narrative

Every drama, documentary, news and reality show have a story to communicate their point.
Christopher Booker argues that all stories can be split into 7 plot lines and all stories are versions of these. They are:

• Tragedy
• Comedy
• Overcoming the monster
• Voyage and the Return
• Quest
• Rags to Riches
• Rebirth

Tragedy

This plot usually concerns a hero with a fatal flaw, which causes a tragic ending.

• Romeo and Juliet
• The Godfather
• Madmen

Comedy

This is not necessarily laugh-out-loud funny but there is always a happy ending typically of romantic fulfilment. Will usually have a hero, down on their luck and looking for love in some shape or form. There will be a hero and a heroine destined to get together, but dark forces prevent them doing so. Normally there is a guiding light to help them on their way.

• Take Me Out
• Friends
• Scrubs
• Gavin and Stacey

Overcoming the Monster

Fighting against a seemingly unbeatable foe at its core. Only will the hero prevail if they can overcome this monster.

• Jaws
• Deal or No Deal
• Doctor Who
• Detective Programmes

Voyage and Return

This plot line follows the archetypal structure of personal development through leaving and then returning. The hero enters a land/place/time that they don't understand and must overcome.

• Alice in Wonderland
• Wife Swap
• Big
• Freaky Friday
• Undercover Boss

Quest

Was always about finding a holy grail. Usually requires the lone hero to have a team or companions with specialist skills. Quite often the object of the quest isn't actually something dramatic - a macguffin.

• Lord of the Rings - the ring
• Pulp Fiction - the suitcase
• Moby Dick
• X Factor
• Total Wipeout

Rags to Riches

The riches in question can be literal or metaphorical. Usually there is a hero who goes from rags to riches and a villain who does the opposite. With a coming of age story the rags and riches are maturity and immaturity.

• Stand By Me
• Pursuit of Happiness
• Only Fools and Horses
• Weakest Link
• Makeover programmes

Re-Birth

The central character finds a new reason for living and turns their life around. Villain spirals down into evil and then at the last second raises their head and gets pulled out of mire by some redeeming figure.

• Eastenders
• Secret Millionaire
• Kitchen Nightmare