REFLECTIVE JOURNAL 2 - RAGS TO RICHES PLOT

 Seminar 2 - Rags to Riches Plots

Subject Knowledge

The 'Seven Basic Plots' is the culmination of over 30 years of research by Booker (2004). Booker identified that there were a number of basic plots and themes occurring in stories from all ages and cultures, finding parallels between epic Greek poems and modern children's stories, Middle Eastern folk-takes and nineteenth century classic novels. However, it is important to establish that not every story fits neatly into one of the seven plots. Indeed, there is overlap between one plot type and another, and there are stories that are shaped by more than one plot type. 

In this seminar, we covered the 'Rags to Riches' plot. In this plot, we follow the transformative journey of an ordinary, insignificant person becoming someone successful, extraordinary and sometimes beautiful. These stories are incredibly popular and there are examples from all over the world - proving that everyone loves a success story. In fact, the concept of the 'American Dream' is based on the rags to riches ideal. Some of the most famous rags to riches stories include King Arthur, Cinderella, The Ugly Duckling, Jane Eyre, David Copperfield and Harry Potter. 

Structure

This plot type has five stages: 

1: Initial wretchedness at home and the 'call' 

We are first introduced to our protagonist, usually as an unhappy child, and often as an orphan. Their poor living conditions (think Cinderella) are normally what most defines our character from the beginning, as this plot type depends on making a display of the stark contrast between the quality of life of the character at the beginning and end of the story, hence the name 'rags to riches'. This stage ends when an opportunity arises, calling or forcing our character out into the world. 

2: Out into the world, initial success

In this stage, the hero or heroine are rewarded with their first success or may have their first encounter with their prince. However, they are not 'ready' yet, so these victories will be short-lived. This phase provides them with a 'taste' of what their life could be, or a glimpse of happiness. 

3: Central crisis

This is where everything goes wrong, and given the recent upward trajectory of our character's life, is considered to be the lowest point of the story. 

4: Independence and the final ordeal 

Our character gains their independence and realises that he/she is both capable and worth of reaching the final goal. They are put to one final test, perhaps a battle, or the trying on of a slipper. 

5: Final union, completion and fulfilment 

The hero wins, and is often rewarded with marriage or a kingdom to preside over. 

I think that this plot type provides a great structure and scaffold for children to use in their own writing. With five clear stages, it is easy to follow and ends in the highly popular 'happily ever after'. However, I think it is very important to not follow the same, often misogynistic conventions as stories of the past. Can our future princesses be rewarded with more than a handsome prince? Can we see our heroine's beauty without having to straighten her hair and remove her glasses (The Princess Diaries)? 

When children are reading and writing rags to riches stories, there are plenty of opportunities to teach grammar. Rather than teaching discretely, Myhill suggests using authentic texts to teach grammar, showing how 'real' writers make choices with their language and grammar (LEAD Principles). As previously mentioned, a key element of the rags to riches story is the unfortunate conditions of the protagonist's early life. Writing this type of character provides a great opportunity to teach expanded noun phrases and prepositional phrases, for example: 

Cinderella is a strong, kind-hearted girl who lives with her cruel step-mother and two wicked step-sisters. 

Booker, C. (2004) The Seven Basic Plots: Bloomsbury

Davies, M (2018) Rags to Riches: Story telling plot https://www.mrmattdavies.me/post/2018/11/08/rags-to-riches-storytelling-plot-27

Bureman, L (2012) The 7 Types of Plots: Rags to Riches https://thewritepractice.com/rags-to-riches/

Booker, C. (2004) The Seven Basic Plots: Bloomsbury

Booker, C. (2004) The Seven Basic Plots: Bloomsbury