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 : Rags to Riches
Initial Wretchedness at Home and the "Call"
A virtuous and beautiful maiden named Grisilde lives a life of hard work and deprivation with her father Janicula, the poorest of the poor inhabitants of the town. One day, however, she receives a marriage proposal from Walter, lord of that land.
While it's true that Grisilde lives in abject poverty at the beginning of the tale, she's not unhappy or mistreated. It's hard for other people to see her virtue, though, through all that dirt. It's only when Walter places her into a different setting that the townspeople can finally see her for what she is.
Out Into the World, Initial Success
Walter's townspeople and nobles adore Grisilde. People from outlying towns travel great distances to see her when news of her brilliance spreads. She has success in negotiating disputes among the townspeople. Basically, she's the perfect wife to Walter, and their marriage is totally happy. Grisilde bears Walter a baby girl.
Everything's going well for Grisilde at this point. She's moved from a hovel to a palace, and she's proven herself a natural as a noblewoman, easily fulfilling her wifely duties and making herself beloved among her subjects. She even performs her most important function: bearing Walter an heir.
The Central Crisis
Walter gets an unshakeable urge to test his wife's constancy and obedience, which he does by making her believe he plans to murder their children. Although Grisilde passes Walter's tests, agreeing without protest to the murder of her babies, Walter tests her yet again, this time by ordering her to leave the palace to make room for his new "wife."
Independence and the Final Ordeal
Grisilde returns to her father's house, having been "divorced" by Walter. She gains a newfound freedom in this: as Walter's ex-wife, she is presumably no longer under an obligation to obey him. Despite this freedom, Grisilde follows Walter's orders, anyway, out of love.
Walter calls Grisilde back to the castle as a servant to prepare his chambers for the arrival of his new bride. When the maiden arrives, Walter asks Grisilde how she likes her. Grisilde replies that she likes her very much but begs Walter not to torment the child the way he has tormented her.
Grisilde's willingness to obey Walter's commands (even as an ex-wife), as well as her lack of ill will toward Walter's new "bride" prove her constancy to Walter. Grisilde also seems to reveal a more confident side by calling Walter's behavior toward her what it was: torment.
Final Union, Completion, and Fulfillment
Convinced of Grisilde's constancy, Walter reveals that the two children are actually their son and daughter, and that Grisilde is still his wife. Reunited, they live happily ever after. This is the classic "happily ever after ending," with the family, and especially the lovers, reunited in a state of perfect union and wholeness.