In a prior thread “Similar but different — Part 1,” I noted in the comments I had some background material on a variety of storylines. In this post, ten different plots courtesy of author Ronald Tobias and his book “20 Master Plots (And How to Build Them).”

1. QUEST
Where the object of the quest means everything to the Protagonist
A quest plot should be about a search for a person, place, or thing
The object of the plot is the hero’s wisdom
Don Quixote
Grapes of Wrath
The Wizard of Oz

2. ADVENTURE
Quest plot is a character plot / Adventure plot is an action plot
Quest plot is about the hero transformation / Adventure plot is journey itself
The object of the plot is the hero seeking fortune
Indiana Jones
The Mummy
Robinson Cruesoe

3. PURSUIT
Fox and house, hide and seek, playing tag
One character chases another, pursuer and pursued
Jaws
Terminator
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
4. RESCUE
Hero’s pursuit of victim and defeat the Nemesis
These stories must have a character triangle
Ransom
In the Line of Fire
The Princess Bride

5. ESCAPE
Plot concentrates energy on mechanics of capture and escape
The Protagonist is almost always imprisoned unjustly
Stalag 17
The Great Escape
Papillon

6. REVENGE
Retaliation by Protagonist against the Nemesis for real or imagined injury
A plot grounded in the emotion of injustice
Death Wish
Sudden Impact
Hamlet

7. THE RIDDLE
Your basic whodunit
Ten Little Indians
Basic Instinct
The Maltese Falcon

8. RIVALRY
Struggle for power between Protagonist and Nemesis
Irresistible force meets immovable object
Lord of the Flies
Tin Men
Grumpy Old Men

9. UNDERDOG
Rivalry plot with mismatch in power between Protagonist and Nemesis
Represents one over many, small over large, weak over powerful
Joan of Arc
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Remember the Titans

10. TEMPTATION
The frailty of human nature
Character plot depending on morality and effects of giving into temptation
Fatal Attraction
Lolita
Psycho

Clearly, there is some overlap here between some of these ‘plots.’ Plus, many movies have more than one plot element. In another post, I’ll provide overviews of 10 other “master” plot identified by Tobias. Then we can discuss whether any of this has any value for your writing process.