Christopher Booker is a scholar who wrote that every story falls into one of seven basic plot structures: Overcoming the Monster, Rags to Riches, the Quest, Voyage and Return, Comedy, Tragedy, and Rebirth. Shmoop explores which of these structures fits this story like Cinderella’s slipper.
Plot Type : Voyage and Return
Anticipation Stage and "fall" into the Other World: Here Comes the Pride
Henry marries Margaret and loses lands in France, but the real problems are happening at home. The nobles are bickering with one another over 1) whether Gloucester should be Protector; 2) who should be Regent in France; and 3) whose fault it is that the French lands are gone. Oh, and did we mention that York wants to be king?
Yep, there's trouble brewing in England, all right, and just about everyone goes out of their way to tell us that the other nobles are prideful, ambitious, and totally at fault.
Initial Fascination or Dream Stage: Witchy Woman
It's all good in the hood for Gloucester: he's Protector, and he has the trust of the king. But when his wife has dreams about becoming queen and starts dabbling in a little witchcraft to find out what's up, things start going downhill for the duke—his wife is arrested and banished, and he's arrested soon afterwards. Who cares if he's guilty of anything? He's just getting in the way of Suffolk, Beaufort, and Margaret's plans for the kingdom.
Frustration Stage: Common Conflict
After the terrifying trio (Suffolk, Beaufort, and Margaret) arranges to have Gloucester knocked off, Henry starts asking questions. Eventually, Beaufort can't take the guilt, and he dies with a load on his conscience. Suffolk, meanwhile, is banished and beheaded. Back in England, the commoners also start questioning what happened to Gloucester. This is no ordinary Q&A: under the leadership of Jack Cade, the commoners revolt.
Nightmare Stage: So You Think You Can Rule?
Things are in shambles for Henry. Cade and his crew are getting stronger and gaining more ground in the city. York hired Cade to stir up trouble, and boy, is it working. Cade revolts against literacy (of all things) and wants to release prisoners from the Tower.
But things are short-lived for the commoner-turned-leader, as he quickly realizes that his crowd is a fickle bunch, ready to blindly follow anyone with a persuasive speech. He flees and is killed. Meanwhile, York preps his army to fight Henry. He thinks he deserves to be king, and he's convinced some other nobles to fight alongside him.
Thrilling Escape and Return: Victory for York, Right?
York challenges Henry to a fight for the crown, and things don't go down very well for the king, as several of his supporters are killed by York and his army. Henry is too scared to fight and doesn't want to run, but he's left with few options. Margaret convinces him to hightail it back to London, where he has loyal supporters. Well, that's what he does, and York declares victory.
York still doesn't have the crown, though, and if he's going to get it, he's going to have to beat Henry back to London. Challenge accepted.