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
Youthful Rebellion
Before landing on the island, Crusoe's father wants him to be a good, middle-class son. Crusoe, who wants nothing more than to travel the world in a ship, is definitely not into this idea. He struggles against the authority of both his father and God, and decides to thumb his nose at both by going adventuring on the sea instead.
Initial Fascination or Dream Stage
Crusoe on the Sea
Crusoe sails around in ships and makes a bit of money in trade. Eventually, he gets captured and made into a slave off the coast of Africa. Here, he befriends a young man named Xury, with whom he escapes from captivity. Picked up by a Portuguese sailing captain, Crusoe makes it to Brazil.
Frustration Stage
Brazil
Safely in Brazil, Crusoe buys a sugar plantation. He does fairly well financially, but soon grows tired and restless. He decides he could have had this kind of life back in England. Inevitably, he becomes involved in a venture to procure slaves from Africa and sets sail once again.
Nightmare Stage
The Island
Crusoe is shipwrecked all alone on a desert island. During his time there, he builds three main structures: his initial shelter, his country home on the opposite side of the island, and his guns and ammo fort in the woods. He spends his time planting corn, barley, and rice. He learns to make bread. He builds furniture, weaves baskets, and makes pots. Crusoe also raises goats and tends to his little animal family of cats, dogs, and a parrot. Most importantly, though, Crusoe becomes stronger in his religious faith, eventually submitting to the authority of God. He devotes himself to much religious reflection and prayer.
Thrilling Escape
Overtaking the Mutineers
Crusoe sees a footprint on the shore one day and learns that he is not alone on the island. There are also (gasp!) cannibals. Crusoe struggles with the question of whether or not he should take revenge on the cannibals. Eventually, he meets with Friday, a native man whom he is able to rescue from the cannibals. Crusoe teaches Friday English and converts him to Christianity. The two become like father and son (more or less). Friday and Crusoe also rescue a Spaniard and Friday's father from a different group of cannibals.
Eventually, an English longboat full of sailors lands on the island. Crusoe learns that the men have mutinied against their captain. After Crusoe helps restore order to the ship, the men and captain pledge allegiance to Crusoe and agree to take him home.
Return
Crusoe Goes Home
Crusoe returns to Europe with Friday, where he comes into a great deal of money from his sugar plantations. Crusoe gets married and eventually revisits the island in his later years. The novel ends with promise of more adventures in the sequel.