20 Master Plots: And How To Build Them May 2026

: A hero must save a victim from an antagonist, often involving a character triangle (e.g., The Searchers ).

: The protagonist is usually unjustly imprisoned and must find a way to break free (e.g., The Great Escape ). 20 Master Plots: And How to Build Them

In his book Ronald B. Tobias argues that while there are millions of stories, there are only twenty basic plot structures that serve as the "bread and butter" of Western storytelling. He categorizes these plots into two main types: Action Plots , which focus on external events and physical movement, and Plots of the Mind , which focus on internal character development and psychological change. The 20 Master Plots : A hero must save a victim from

: Similar to rivalry, but the hero faces overwhelming odds or a much more powerful opponent (e.g., Joan of Arc ). Plots of the Mind (Internal Focus) Tobias argues that while there are millions of

These plots center on how characters change, grow, or deteriorate. 20 Master Plots: And How to Build Them by Ronald B. Tobias