Christopher Booker argues in his book "The Seven Basic Plots – Why we tell stories" that “there is a number of plots which are fundamental to the way we tell stories” (Booker 6) and that every single storyline is constructed of one of the seven predetermined plot developments. Booker characterizes each of the possible plots roughly and then states that there cannot be any story that differs from one of these patterns.
The author then goes even further. He states that every plot actually runs through the same five stages, which he calls “meta-plot” (Booker 157).
In other words C. Booker demonstrates how to analyze the plot of a story by classifying it into the category it fits in and then subdividing its different stages.
But does his concept really work for any story? Is it possible to categorize a book into one of Booker´s seven plots and to subdivide its plot into the five stages of Booker´s meta-plot afterwards?
In order to question whether his theory works for different stories this work deals with the analysis of the novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde according to C. Booker´s scheme of the Seven Basic Plots.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Seven Basic Plots
- 2.1 Overview
- 2.2 The Picture of Dorian Gray as a Tragedy
- 3. The meta-plot
- 3.1 Overview
- 3.2 The Meta-Plot in The Picture of Dorian Gray
- 3.3 Evaluation of the analysis
- 4. Structuralism in The Seven Basic Plots
- 4.1 Critics
- 5. Conclusions
Objectives and Key Themes
This work analyzes Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray using Christopher Booker's framework of "The Seven Basic Plots." The objective is to determine whether Booker's theory, which posits that all stories conform to one of seven basic plot structures, successfully categorizes Wilde's novel and whether the novel's plot aligns with the five stages of Booker's "meta-plot." The analysis investigates the applicability of Booker's theory to a specific literary work.
- The applicability of Christopher Booker's "Seven Basic Plots" theory to literary analysis.
- The classification of The Picture of Dorian Gray within one of Booker's seven plot structures.
- An examination of the novel's narrative structure in relation to Booker's "meta-plot."
- An evaluation of the strengths and limitations of Booker's theoretical framework.
- A comparative analysis of narrative features in The Picture of Dorian Gray with those of Booker's defined plot types.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the fundamental premise that storytelling is an inherent human activity. It introduces Christopher Booker's theory of "The Seven Basic Plots," which proposes that all narratives fundamentally adhere to one of seven predetermined plot structures. The chapter questions the universality of Booker's theory by posing the question of whether the theory can be effectively applied to various stories, setting the stage for the subsequent analysis of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray through this framework. The introduction lays out the central research question, which is the core of the analysis that follows.
2. The Seven Basic Plots: This chapter provides an overview of Booker's "Seven Basic Plots." It details each of the seven plot types – "Overcoming the Monster," "Rags to Riches," "The Quest," "Voyage and Return," "Comedy," "Tragedy," and "Rebirth" – outlining their characteristic narrative features and providing illustrative examples. This lays the groundwork for the application of this theoretical framework to The Picture of Dorian Gray in subsequent chapters. The chapter’s depth in explaining each of the seven basic plots ensures a strong foundation for the ensuing analysis of Wilde's novel.
2.2 The Picture of Dorian Gray as a Tragedy: This section systematically compares the narrative characteristics of Booker's seven plots with those present in Wilde's novel. It systematically eliminates plots like "Overcoming the Monster," "Rags to Riches," "The Quest," and "Voyage and Return" as unsuitable classifications for The Picture of Dorian Gray due to the absence of key elements such as a triumphant hero, a transformative journey, or a clear goal attainment. The possibility of it being a "Comedy" is considered and subsequently dismissed due to the lack of a happy ending and enlightenment. The chapter ultimately concludes that "Tragedy" is the most fitting categorization for the novel, based on the protagonist's downfall, tragic flaw, and ultimately unhappy ending. The analysis is supported by definitions and examples provided from established sources like The Columbia Encyclopedia, strengthening the chapter's conclusions.
Keywords
The Seven Basic Plots, Christopher Booker, Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Tragedy, Narrative Structure, Plot Analysis, Literary Theory, Meta-Plot, Narrative Features
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Oscar Wilde's *The Picture of Dorian Gray* Using "The Seven Basic Plots"
What is the main objective of this analysis?
This analysis aims to determine if Christopher Booker's "Seven Basic Plots" theory accurately categorizes Oscar Wilde's *The Picture of Dorian Gray*. It investigates whether the novel's plot aligns with Booker's "meta-plot" and evaluates the applicability of Booker's framework to this specific literary work.
What are the key themes explored in this analysis?
The key themes include the applicability of Booker's theory to literary analysis; the classification of *The Picture of Dorian Gray* within one of the seven plot structures; an examination of the novel's narrative structure in relation to Booker's "meta-plot"; an evaluation of the strengths and limitations of Booker's theory; and a comparative analysis of narrative features in *The Picture of Dorian Gray* with those of Booker's defined plot types.
What are Booker's "Seven Basic Plots"?
Booker's theory proposes that all narratives fundamentally adhere to one of seven plot structures: "Overcoming the Monster," "Rags to Riches," "The Quest," "Voyage and Return," "Comedy," "Tragedy," and "Rebirth." The analysis details the characteristics of each.
How is *The Picture of Dorian Gray* classified according to Booker's theory?
After a systematic comparison of the novel's narrative characteristics with those of each of Booker's seven plots, the analysis concludes that "Tragedy" is the most fitting classification for *The Picture of Dorian Gray*, due to the protagonist's downfall, tragic flaw, and unhappy ending. Other plot types are systematically eliminated based on the absence of key elements.
What is the "meta-plot" in Booker's theory, and how does it relate to *The Picture of Dorian Gray*?
The analysis explores Booker's "meta-plot," a five-stage structure that many narratives follow, and examines whether the narrative arc of *The Picture of Dorian Gray* aligns with this model. Specific details on this analysis are within the dedicated chapter.
What are the strengths and limitations of Booker's "Seven Basic Plots" theory as revealed by this analysis?
The analysis evaluates the strengths and limitations of Booker's framework by applying it to a specific literary work. This allows for a practical assessment of its usefulness and potential shortcomings in literary analysis.
What is covered in each chapter of the analysis?
The analysis includes an introduction establishing the theoretical framework, a detailed explanation of Booker's seven basic plots, a chapter dedicated to classifying *The Picture of Dorian Gray* within one of these plots (concluding it's a tragedy), a discussion of structuralism in relation to the seven plots, and concluding remarks. Chapter summaries provide further details.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include: The Seven Basic Plots, Christopher Booker, Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Tragedy, Narrative Structure, Plot Analysis, Literary Theory, Meta-Plot, Narrative Features.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2015, Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray". An analysis with Christopher Booker's "Seven Basic Plots", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/336327
