Untitled Lesson

OBJ and
DOL

OBJ: I can learn about 4 common
plot patterns in stories.

DOL: Given 5 questions and 2
scenarios, I will identify and
describe common plot patterns by
citing text evidence with 100%
accuracy.

How did the following
forms of pattern
recognition help humans
survive and thrive
throughout history?

• Recognize landmarks
• Analyze tone of voice to predict

someone’s emotional state

• Patterns of behavior for prey being

hunted

• Poisonous vs safe foods
• Strong vs weak building techniques
• Learning how to read

Humans LOVE patterns. We look for and create patterns
everywhere, including in the stories we read and/or watch.

HOW ARE ARCHETYPES AN EXAMPLE OF A PATTERN IN THE STORIES WE

TELL?

Novel
Patterns

• Overcoming the Monster - An underdog story where the hero

sets out to destroy an evil of some kind. Generally, this evil is
something larger or greater than the protagonist, and will
take great courage and strength to defeat.

• Rags to Riches - The poor main character lives in oppressive

living conditions, and overcomes them to gain wealth, status,
a companion, and/or a kingdom of some kind. Key to the
story is a point where the protagonist seems to have
achieved success, but it's too early, and he or she isn't ready
for it, and everything comes crashing down around them.

• The Quest - A search for a place, item, or person that

requires the hero to leave home in order to find it.

• Rebirth - A villain protagonist redeems themself over the

course of the story, after spiraling deeper into villainy and
meeting a redemption figure. Redemption figures usually
come in the form of a child or the protagonist's other half,
and they serve to remind the villain-hero what compassion or
love feels like.

Overcoming
the Monster

• An underdog story where the hero sets out to destroy an

evil of some kind. Generally, this evil is something larger
or greater than the protagonist, and often threatens their
homeland. It will take great courage and strength to
defeat.

Overcoming the Monster

• Characters
• Hero:
• Villain:
• Princess/Innocent:
•

Plot

• Good guy overcomes evil?
• Evil caused a threat to the hero’s land?
• Innocent saved?
• Monster slayed?

Overcoming
the Monster

• An underdog story where the hero sets

out to destroy an evil of some kind.
Generally, this evil is something larger
or greater than the protagonist, and
often threatens their homeland. It will
take great courage and strength to
defeat.

• What other story examples can you

think of that follow this plot pattern?

Rags to
Riches

• Rags to Riches is essentially what the American Dream can be condensed

to. A child grows up with oppressive living conditions or authority figures
(usually in poverty), and overcomes them to end the story with wealth,
status, a companion, and usually a kingdom of some kind. Key to the
story is a point where the protagonist seems to have achieved success,
but it's too early, and he or she isn't ready for it, and everything comes
crashing down around them.

MRS

• Characters
• Protagonist:

• Antagonist:
• Power / Wealth /Love
•

Plot

• Character gains power/wealth or love?
• Evil character?
• Almost loses everything?
• Ends with hero character wiser?

Rags to Riches

•Rags to Riches is essentially what the
American Dream can be condensed to. A
child grows up with oppressive living
conditions or authority figures (usually in
poverty), and overcomes them to end the
story with wealth, status, a companion, and
usually a kingdom of some kind. Key to the
story is a point where the protagonist seems
to have achieved success, but it's too early,
and he or she isn't ready for it, and
everything comes crashing down around
them.

•What other story examples can you think of
that follow this plot pattern?

The
Quest

• The Quest is a search for a place, item, or person that requires the hero to leave home in order

to find it. Sometimes the item is just a prop to drive the plot along; other times the thing driving
the quest is specific to the story's circumstances. Either way, the hero sets out on a journey with
a companion or companions, runs into many obstacles along the way, and ultimately must
complete his or her quest.

The Quest

• Characters
• Protagonist:
• Antagonist:
• Close friend / Sidekick/ Generic group / Set

of independent characters:

•

Plot

• Main character and company?
• Goal is to find an object?
• Obstacles?

The Quest

• The Quest is a search for a place, item,

or person that requires the hero to
leave home in order to find it.
Sometimes the item is just a prop to
drive the plot along; other times the
thing driving the quest is specific to the
story's circumstances. Either way, the
hero sets out on a journey with a
companion or companions, runs into
many obstacles along the way, and
ultimately must complete his or her
quest.

• What other story examples can you

think of that follow this plot pattern?

Rebirth

•Rebirth stories generally focus on villain protagonists who redeem themselves over the course of the
story, after spiraling deeper into villainy and meeting a redemption figure. Redemption figures usually
come in the form of a child or the protagonist's other half, and they serve to remind the villain-hero what
compassion or love feels like. They also help the villain-hero see what the world is actually like, instead of
the warped perception that the protagonist has that has led to their development as a villain.

Rebirth

• Characters
• Protagonist/Villain:
• Redemption Character:
• Plot
• Villain has warped view?
• Meets redemption character?
• Learns to feel love/compassion?
• Changes their ways?

Rebirth

•Rebirth stories generally focus on villain
protagonists who redeem themselves over
the course of the story, after spiraling
deeper into villainy and meeting a
redemption figure. Redemption figures
usually come in the form of a child or the
protagonist's other half, and they serve to
remind the villain-hero what compassion or
love feels like. They also help the villain-hero
see what the world is actually like, instead of
the warped perception that the protagonist
has that has led to their development as a
villain.

•What other story examples can you think of
that follow this plot pattern?

SCR
• Set in Middle-earth during the Third Age, The Fellowship of

the Ring follows the unlikely hero, Frodo Baggins, in his
journey to destroy the One Ring of ultimate power before
the evil Sauron can regain the weapon. Accompanied by a
group of fellow hobbits and representatives of Men, Elves,
and Dwarves, Frodo is guided by the wizard Gandalf on the
dangerous journey to Mordor, Sauron’s domain and the
only place where the Ring can be destroyed. The
fellowship endeavors to fight the Ring’s temptation of
power by building trust amid animosity and by embodying
the values of loyalty, empathy, and friendship. (source:
https://www.supersummary.com/the-fellowship-of-the-rin
g/summary/)

• What pattern does The Lord of the Rings follow?

DOL

DOL: Given 5 questions and 2 scenarios, I will correctly identify and describe common plot
patterns with 5 out of 5 correct.

Ls - 0-2

S1s - 3

S2s - 4

A - 5