They say there are only 5 stories in literature, movies, etc.  What
are they? For example, a current Chicago play, "Hillbilly Antigone"
(which is great!) follows the "Antigone" > "Romeo & Juliet" > "West
Side Story" line. Is there a short summary of what the 5 stories
actually are?

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 26 Jun 2005 16:18 PDT

Does it have to be exactly five? Here are several links that I think
you'll find interesting:

http://www.ipl.org/div/farq/plotFARQ.html

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/001124.html

http://www.sff.net/people/julia.west/CALLIHOO/ideagen2.htm

Please let me know if the material linked above is a satisfactory
answer to your question.

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Clarification of Question by jazznoir-ga on 26 Jun 2005 16:42 PDT

Hi Pinkfreud, 
   Re: "5 stories"
   No, it doesn't necessarily have to be only 5; that's just what
someone mentioned to me and it sounded believable.  Thank you for the
rapid response and the links, they were very helpful.  Is there any
way to get a couple of specific examples?  (I assume the OT and
ancient Greek lit are the sources of the "5"?)  Whatever, when Google
Answers e-mails me (am not sure how this works), I'll tell them you
answered my ?.  Thanks again.

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 26 Jun 2005 16:59 PDT

I'll be glad to do some more research in order to be able to post a
fully satisfactory answer to your question, but I'm not sure what you
mean by "a couple of specific examples."

Here's another link that may be of interest to you:

http://domin.dom.edu/depts/gslis/stumpers/faqf.htm#number_of_plots

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Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 30 Jun 2005 01:30 PDT

Hello jazznoir-ga,

There was an earlier similar Google Answers question that discussed
this topic at length and provided some excellent links to help you
continue your exploration of this subject.

http://www.answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=210539
Q: The Seven Main Plots in All of Literature = ??? 

Please tell us what further examples you're looking for. Thanks.

~ czh ~