A story where the hero confronts and defeats a powerful evil force that threatens them, their community, or their world.
Overcoming the monster is one of Christopher Booker's seven basic plots, and it is exactly what it sounds like. A terrible force (a villain, a creature, a corrupt system) threatens everything the protagonist cares about, and they have to gear up, get smart, and take it down. The structure typically moves through five stages: the threat becomes known, the hero prepares or sets out, the confrontation begins, things look really bad for our hero, and then the monster is defeated. The "monster" does not have to be literal. It can be a corporation, a dictator, a disease, or any overwhelming antagonistic force.
This plot taps into something deeply human: the fear of being outmatched and the hope that courage and cleverness can win anyway. It is one of the most emotionally satisfying structures because readers get to experience dread and triumph in quick succession. If you are writing any story with a clear antagonist, understanding this framework helps you pace the confrontation so the victory feels earned rather than handed out.
Create a "monster" that is not a literal creature. It could be a corrupt landlord, a social media mob, or an invasive species. Write the scene where your protagonist first realizes the full scale of the threat. Focus on the gap between how powerful the monster is and how unprepared the hero feels.