In 1900, a French literary critic named Georges Polti published an analysis of literary plots entitled "The 36 Dramatic Situations". Polti also further subdivided each of the 36 (citing particular plays and novels that embodied each variant), and included for each an enumeration of the basic 'elements' needed for the plot, e.g. for Supplication: "The dynamic elements necessary are: a Persecutor, a Suppliant and a Power in authority, whose decision is doubtful" Here's a very rough re-sorting of Polti's thirtysix, according to a preliminary reworking of those elements:
- person thing: Obtaining
- person motive: Victim of misfortune, Disaster, Ambition
- person motive motive: Self-sacrifice for an ideal person motive modality: Daring enterprise, Remorse
- person modality: Enigma, Madness, Fatal imprudence, Faulty judgment
- person person: Revolt, Familial hatred, Family rivalry, Conflict with a god, Loss of loved ones
- person person place: Recovery of a lost one
- person person place place: Pursuit, Abduction
- person person motive: Supplication, Victim of cruelty, Rivalry between superior and inferior, Crimes of love, Deliverance
- person person modality: Kinsman kills unrecognized kinsman, Obstacles to love, Mistaken jealousy
- person person motive motive: Revenge, All sacrifice for passion, Sacrifice of loved ones, An enemy loved, Self sacrifice for kindred
- person person motive modality: Involuntary crimes of love, Discovery of dishonor of a loved one
- person person person: Adultery, Murderous adultery
- person person person person motive motive: Vengeance by family upon family
Understanding human behavior via stories
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