INI

Story Archetypes - INI

Story archetypes are categorizations of works that share similar narrative patterns and structures. This classification encompasses traditional Japanese narrative types such as moral tales, tales of noble wanderers, and tales of interspecies marriage, as well as the ten modern screenwriting types proposed by Blake Snyder. These archetypes provide an important framework for analyzing, creating, and studying narratives, offering insights into universal storytelling patterns that transcend cultures and eras.

narrative archetype storytelling screenwriting literary theory narratology
[item.kanzen-choaku]
code=01
slug=kanzen-choaku
name=Moral Retribution Tale
description=A narrative type that encourages good and punishes evil.
category=Traditional Narrative Types
examples=["Hissatsu series","Nanso Satomi Hakkenden","Mito Komon"]
elements=

[item.kishu-ryuri-tan]
code=02
slug=kishu-ryuri-tan
name=Tale of the Exiled Noble
description=A narrative type where a person of noble birth experiences wandering or trials.
category=Traditional Narrative Types
examples=["Susanoo","Heracles","Minamoto no Yoshitsune","Liu Bei","Yamato Takeru"]
elements=

[item.ishu-konin-tan]
code=03
slug=ishu-konin-tan
name=Tale of Interspecies Marriage
description=A narrative type where a human marries a being of different species.
category=Traditional Narrative Types
examples=["The Crane Wife","Issun-boshi"]
elements=

[item.ijo-tanjou-tan]
code=04
slug=ijo-tanjou-tan
name=Tale of Miraculous Birth
description=A narrative type where a child is born in an unusual manner.
category=Traditional Narrative Types
examples=["Candy-Buying Ghost","Momotaro","Princess Kaguya"]
elements=

[item.miruna-no-taboo]
code=05
slug=miruna-no-taboo
name=Forbidden Sight Taboo
description=A narrative type where tragedy occurs from breaking a taboo against looking.
category=Traditional Narrative Types
examples=["The Crane Wife","Urashima Taro","Pandora's Box","Izanagi and Izanami","Lot's Wife"]
elements=

[item.henshin-tan]
code=06
slug=henshin-tan
name=Transformation Tale
description=A narrative type where a person or thing transforms into another form.
category=Traditional Narrative Types
examples=["Werewolf","Bakeneko","Kushinadahime"]
elements=

[item.ikyo-houmon-tan]
code=07
slug=ikyo-houmon-tan
name=Journey to Another World
description=A narrative type where the protagonist visits another world or foreign land.
category=Traditional Narrative Types
examples=["Urashima Taro","Dragon Palace"]
elements=

[item.mamako-ijime-tan]
code=08
slug=mamako-ijime-tan
name=Persecuted Stepchild Tale
description=A narrative type where a stepchild is mistreated but ultimately finds happiness.
category=Traditional Narrative Types
examples=["Cinderella","Ochikubo Monogatari"]
elements=

[item.suekko-seikou-tan]
code=09
slug=suekko-seikou-tan
name=Youngest Child Success Tale
description=A narrative type where the youngest among siblings achieves success.
category=Traditional Narrative Types
examples=["The Three Little Pigs","Puss in Boots"]
elements=

[item.chifu-tan]
code=10
slug=chifu-tan
name=Rags to Riches Tale
description=A narrative type where a poor person acquires wealth.
category=Traditional Narrative Types
examples=["Warashibe Choja","Aladdin"]
elements=

[item.kansei-densetsu]
code=11
slug=kansei-densetsu
name=Divine Conception Legend
description=A narrative type where heroes or great figures are conceived through mystical means.
category=Traditional Narrative Types
examples=["Toyotomi Hideyoshi","Liu Bang","Zhu Yuanzhang"]
elements=

[item.moushigo-tan]
code=12
slug=moushigo-tan
name=Prayer-Granted Child Tale
description=A narrative type where a child is granted through prayer to gods or Buddha.
category=Traditional Narrative Types
examples=["Tamamizu Monogatari","Issun-boshi"]
elements=

[item.sekai-kei]
code=13
slug=sekai-kei
name=Sekai-kei
description=A narrative type where the protagonist's personal relationships are directly linked to the fate of the world.
category=Modern Types
examples=["Voices of a Distant Star","Saikano","Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu"]
elements=

[item.narou-kei]
code=14
slug=narou-kei
name=Narou-kei
description=A narrative type featuring isekai reincarnation or transportation.
category=Modern Types
examples=["That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime","The Rising of the Shield Hero"]
elements=

[item.nanpa-monogatari]
code=15
slug=nanpa-monogatari
name=Shipwreck Tale
description=A narrative type where a ship wrecks and the protagonist survives on a deserted island or unknown land.
category=Traditional Narrative Types
examples=["The Voyages of Sinbad","Robinson Crusoe","Hayy ibn Yaqdhan"]
elements=

[item.ie-no-naka-no-monster]
code=16
slug=ie-no-naka-no-monster
name=Monster in the House
description=A narrative type where a monster appears in a confined space.
category=Blake Snyder's 10 Types
examples=
elements=["A 'monster' more terrifying than death","A 'house' with no escape where the monster has entered","The 'sin' that summoned the monster"]

[item.kin-no-youmou]
code=17
slug=kin-no-youmou
name=Golden Fleece
description=A narrative type of adventure story where characters journey to seek a goal.
category=Blake Snyder's 10 Types
examples=
elements=["The 'road' and 'apples by the roadside' that distract the protagonist","The 'team' that travels together","The 'reward' being sought"]

[item.mahou-no-lamp]
code=18
slug=mahou-no-lamp
name=Out of the Bottle
description=A narrative type where a magical power that grants wishes is obtained.
category=Blake Snyder's 10 Types
examples=
elements=["Someone's 'wish'","The 'rules' that accompany magic","The 'lesson'"]

[item.nandai-ni-chokumen-shita-bonjin]
code=19
slug=nandai-ni-chokumen-shita-bonjin
name=Dude with a Problem
description=A narrative type where an ordinary person is caught up in a sudden crisis.
category=Blake Snyder's 10 Types
examples=
elements=["An innocent protagonist","A sudden event","A life-or-death crisis"]

[item.jinsei-no-kiro]
code=20
slug=jinsei-no-kiro
name=Rites of Passage
description=A narrative type where characters face life problems and undergo change.
category=Blake Snyder's 10 Types
examples=
elements=["Life problems","Wrong approach","Protagonist's transformation"]

[item.aibou-ai]
code=21
slug=aibou-ai
name=Buddy Love
description=A narrative type where an incomplete protagonist grows through their relationship with a buddy.
category=Blake Snyder's 10 Types
examples=
elements=["An incomplete protagonist","A buddy who fills the protagonist's gaps","Complexity of protagonist and buddy"]

[item.naze-yatta-noka]
code=22
slug=naze-yatta-noka
name=Whydunit
description=A narrative type of mystery story exploring the motive behind a crime.
category=Blake Snyder's 10 Types
examples=
elements=["Detective","Secret","Dark clouds"]

[item.obakasan-no-shouri]
code=23
slug=obakasan-no-shouri
name=Fool Triumphant
description=A narrative type where someone thought to be foolish ultimately triumphs.
category=Blake Snyder's 10 Types
examples=
elements=["The fool","Authority/insider","Transformation"]

[item.soshiki-no-naka-de]
code=24
slug=soshiki-no-naka-de
name=Institutionalized
description=A narrative type where characters face choices and sacrifices within an organization.
category=Blake Snyder's 10 Types
examples=
elements=["Organization","Choice","Sacrifice"]

[item.superhero]
code=25
slug=superhero
name=Superhero
description=A narrative type where a hero with special powers battles an archenemy.
category=Blake Snyder's 10 Types
examples=
elements=["A hero with special powers","An archenemy with self-made abilities equal to or greater than the hero","The hero's defeat/curse to overcome"]

[item.fukushu-tan]
code=26
slug=fukushu-tan
name=Revenge Tale
description=A narrative type depicting retaliation against injustice.
category=Additional Types
examples=["The Count of Monte Cristo","Chushingura","Hamlet"]
elements=

[item.seichou-monogatari]
code=27
slug=seichou-monogatari
name=Coming of Age Story
description=A narrative type where the protagonist mentally matures and becomes an adult.
category=Additional Types
examples=["The Catcher in the Rye","Norwegian Wood","Botchan"]
elements=

[item.higeki-teki-renai-tan]
code=28
slug=higeki-teki-renai-tan
name=Tragic Romance
description=A narrative type where two lovers meet a tragic end.
category=Additional Types
examples=["Romeo and Juliet","The Tale of Genji","Wuthering Heights"]
elements=

[item.eiyuu-no-tabiji]
code=29
slug=eiyuu-no-tabiji
name=Hero's Journey
description=A narrative type where a hero undergoes transformation through adventure.
category=Additional Types
examples=["Star Wars","The Lord of the Rings","Harry Potter"]
elements=

[item.botsuraku-monogatari]
code=30
slug=botsuraku-monogatari
name=Fall from Grace
description=A tragic narrative type where the protagonist falls from a high position.
category=Additional Types
examples=["Macbeth","Oedipus Rex","The Tale of the Heike"]
elements=

[item.tankyu-monogatari]
code=31
slug=tankyu-monogatari
name=Quest Narrative
description=A narrative type where the protagonist searches for an important goal.
category=Additional Types
examples=["Quest for the Holy Grail","The Odyssey","Journey to the West"]
elements=

[item.ninjo-monogatari]
code=32
slug=ninjo-monogatari
name=Human Drama
description=A narrative type depicting human emotions and social obligations.
category=Additional Types
examples=["The Love Suicides at Sonezaki","Yotsuya Kaidan"]
elements=