Universal Plots and a Story that Illustrates Each

Which Universal Plots (Universal Conflicts) does your story have?
Conflict Archetype: Essential element of story

I thought you might want to look at these a little bit closer. I found stories to represent each plot/conflict archetype.

Man, Person, Character vs Person: (Harry Potter vs Voldemort) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling

Man, Person, Character vs Nature The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Man, Person, Character vs Society To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Man, Person, Character vs Machine/Technology Dot Robot: Atomic Swarm by Jason Bradbury

Man, Person, Character vs God/Spirituality/Monsters/Fairies The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Man, Person, Character vs Himself – Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Man, Person, Character vs Destiny Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

Man, Person, Character vs Time The television series, 24

Man, Person, Character vs Institutions Lord of the Flies byWilliam Golding

Man, Person, Character vs Family Harry Potter books show Harry struggle with the family who keeps him after his parents are killed.

I hope this helps you get a clearer picture of the Universal Archetypes of Plot/Conflict in literature.

Giveaway complete 2010.

Please leave a comment below. Thanks a bunch.
Happy Living and Writing
Joan Y. Edwards

Copyright 2010 Joan Y. Edwards. All rights reserved.

4 thoughts on “Universal Plots and a Story that Illustrates Each”

  1. Joan,

    You have certainly shared a lot of good information here and on other recent posts. Thank you.

    Linda A.

  2. I’m a clinical psychologist in England – my last post I put Scrooge on the couch even then Jungian archetypes appeared, mainly from his Ghosts (Therapists of Christmas Present, Past Future!)

    The id ego and superego are more triads of personality, and the self and archetypes, patterns within these.

    Really interesting read. You should read An Interpretation Of Murder (It’s based on Freuds visit to america and has Jung as a charachter too!)

    1. Dear Dane,
      Thank you for writing. I appreciate your letting me know about your putting Scrooge on the couch. So funny! You are quite good with your analogies of Scrooge. I know that your clients appreciate you. I haven’t read An Interpretation of Murder. It sounds interesting. I’ll check it out at the library. Thanks again for leaving your comment. Do something good for yourself.
      Joan

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