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 :
Overcoming the Monster
Anticipation Stage and "Call"
The first chapter of Parable of the Sower describes Lauren's recurring dream. Basically, she's trying to escape from fire, and she's trying to find her way to the stars. That's right: Lauren wants to build an Earthseed community that will someday get humanity to outer space. Lauren's dream just gives us a vague impression of all this, but that's okay in Booker's terms, because the anticipation stage is supposed to be a little unclear.
Dream Stage
The dream stage, according to Booker, is about the heroine planning for the battle to come, in an environment of relative safety. That pretty much describes Lauren scribbling out religious verses in her journals, trying to figure out a religion that will draw people in to create community. Sure, Robledo is slowing falling apart, but it does seem for a while that the night watches and target practices and everything else will be sufficient.
Frustration Stage
The frustration stage brings us face-to-face with the Monster. That's when Robledo burns down in Chapter 14. Lauren is the sole survivor in her family, and almost everyone she knows is killed: a horrible catastrophe for her to have to experience. Of course, there's also a lot of fire, since a bunch of pyro addicts are burning stuff down. Here we see the Monster in all its terrible power.
Nightmare Stage
The nightmare stage is the final ordeal. It's pretty long, in our reading: Lauren as a refugee, is migrating north, and it's a long haul. It can't be anything other than a nightmare to be a refugee, we think, even though she and her group do have a few days here and there to rest.
The Thrilling Escape from Death, and Death of the Monster
Hurrying to get free of the firestorm in Chapter 24 seems like a thrilling escape from death to us. Lauren leads her group away from the fire, and they finally get free. They find Bankole's land, and shortly thereafter, everyone basically awards Lauren her "kingdom." They agree to settle there and start the Earthseed community with her.