Most other story theorists can come up with a dozen, and in The Book on Writing former Dallas Times-Herald writing coach Paula LaRocque rattled off nearly twice that many: “Some of the obvious theme or action archetypes are quest, search, journey, pursuit, capture, rescue, escape, love, forbidden love, unrequited love, adventure, riddle, mystery, sacrifice, discovery, temptation, loss or gain of identity, metamorphosis, transformation, dragon-slaying, descent to an underworld, rebirth, redemption.”
