Friedman's story plots

Disciplines > Storytelling > Friedman's story plots

Plots of fortune | Plots of character | Plots of thought | See also

Norman Friedman (1955) described a comprehensive list of story plots, based on a classification by R. S. Crane and adding considerations of success, responsibility, attractiveness and the impact on the receiver to Crane's plots of action, of character and of thought.

Friedman notes that the main purpose of the storyline is to stimulate emotions through a sequence of cause, means, effects and end.

Plots of fortune

In plots of fortune, there is a person who is the principal character of the story (a 'protagonist'), whose circumstances or situation are changed in the story.

The Action Plot: Classic all-action sequential story.
The Pathetic Plot: Weak character loses out.
The Tragic Plot: Failure of a strong character.
The Punitive Plot: Bad guy gets just desserts.
The Sentimental Plot: Weak character wins through.
The Admiration Plot: Ordinary person wins through.

Plots of character

Plots of character involve some change in the moral character of the protagonist as they learn life's lessons and make deep decisions.

The Maturing Plot: Person goes through life transition.
The Reform Plot: Fallen person restores their position.
The Testing Plot: Noble character is tested to the extreme.
The Degeneration Plot: Attractive character falls from grace.

Plots of thought

Plots of thought have their main focus in what the protagonist of the story thinks and feels. They thus can be quite cerebral, giving much attention to the inner world.

The Education Plot: Protagonist learns something important.
The Revelation Plot: Ignorance is abolished as truth is revealed.
The Affective Plot: Tension between thoughts and feelings.
The Disillusionment Plot: Loss of ideals and consequent effects.