Leo Tolstoy famously said, “All great literature is one of two stories; a man goes on a journey or a stranger comes to town.”
And when you really think about it, Reader, he’s not wrong. At their core, all stories, no matter their genre, their length, or their complexity—are one or the other.
Think I’m entirely crazy to say this? I can prove I’m not, with these…
10 Examples of Tolstoy’s Famous 2 Story Types
Going On a Journey
1) Onward
In the Contemporary Fantasy movie Onward, two elf brothers set out on a quest to find an artifact that will temporarily revive their dead father for a day.
2) The Mandalorian and Grogu
In the SciFi Adventure movie The Mandalorian and Grogu, bounty hunter Din Djarin (Mando) and his foundling apprentice Grogu are enlisted by the New Republic to rescue Rotta the Hutt in exchange for information they desperately need.
3) The Hobbit
In the Fantasy The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins is recruited to join the wizard Gandalf and a group of 13 dwarves on a quest to reclaim the dwarven home and treasure from the dragon Smaug.
4) Civil War (2024)
In the 2024 Dystopian War-thriller Civil War, while facing danger on all sides amid the Second American Civil War, a group of war journalists travel from New York City to Washington, D.C. Their hope—to interview the despot third-term President of the United States before the capital is liberated.
5) A Goofy Movie
In the 1995 Comedy A Goofy Movie, Goofy and his teenage son, Max, embark on a misguided father-son fishing trip across the US. Instead, they end up road tripping it to LA and become part of a once-in-a-lifetime performance.
As you can see, the “journey” doesn’t have to only be a sweeping dragon-filled quest. It can be a road trip with dad, a rescue mission, or a record of historical importance.
A Stranger Comes to Town
1) Howl’s Moving Castle
In the 2004 Fantasy movie Howl’s Moving Castle, Sophie’s quiet life as a milliner is disrupted when the vengeful Witch of the Waste sweeps into town and transforms her into an elderly woman.
Stranger = Witch of the Waste | Town = Market Chipping, Ingary
2) The War of the Worlds
In the 1938 radio drama The War of the Worlds, the alien invasion of Earth begins on a farm in Grovers Mill, New Jersey. In the end, the invaders are defeated by microbes instead of mankind.
Stranger = the Martians/Invaders | Town = Grovers Mill, New Jersey, Earth
3) Star vs. the Forces of Evil
In the Contemporary Fantasy show Star vs. the Forces of Evil, the suburban town of Echo Creek is changed forever when human Marco Diaz gets magical girl Princess Star Butterfly as a roommate.
Stranger = Princess Star Butterfly | Town = Echo Creek
4) Salem’s Lot
In the Horror Salem’s Lot, writer Ben Mears returns to his childhood town of Jerusalem’s Lot, Maine, to discover the residents are turning into vampires.
Stranger(s) = Ben Mears (the writer), Kurt Barlow (the ancient vampire), and Richard Straker (the vampire’s human familiar) | Town = Jerusalem’s Lot/Salem’s Lot
5) Don’t Look Up
In the SciFi movie Don’t Look Up, two low-level astronomers attempt to warn humanity about a civilization-ending comet by going to the media.
Stranger = planet killer comet | Town = Earth
As you can see, your “stranger” can be a curse-dealing witch, good gals or bad guys, a whole horde of space invaders, or even a force of nature. And your “town” can be as small as an actual town or suburban city or even all of planet Earth.
So which story are you telling, Reader?
A road trip?
A quest?
An Odyssey?
Or maybe it’s something about the arrival of a transfer student?
Or a great evil sweeping into a tiny village?
Or maybe a body-snatching invasion?
Whatever your choice, try simplifying it into one of these 2 types first, then expanding from there.
Well until next time, Reader, this is your friendly neighborhood storytelling Kat wishing you a wonderfully creative weekend.
Your cohort in storytelling,
Kat Vancil
🐱
PS 👉 Can you think of any books or movies that fit into these two types? Hit reply and share!
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Leslie "XPLovecat" Horn
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