[sociate] The 36 Ur-plots

Today at Tom Munnecke's  <http://www.givingspace.org/goodapples.htm>
GoodApples workshop in NYC, our lively moderator  <http://www.izzyg.com/>
Izzy Gesell mentioned in passing the thirty-some fundamental plot lines. I
couldn't help asking Google, which swiftly steered me to
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0871161095/jerrymichalskisr> The
Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations by Georges Polti, and
<http://rpglibrary.blackgate.net/articles/storytelling/36plots.html> The 36
Plots site by Loren Miller, which lists them all. In case you're curious,
here they are:


1.      Supplication - Persecutor, Suppliant, a Power in Authority 
2.      Deliverance - Unfortunates, Threatener, Rescuer 
3.      Revenge - Avenger, Criminal 
4.      Vengeance by Family upon Family - Avenging Kinsman, Guilty Kinsman,
Relative 
5.      Pursuit - Fugitive from Punishment, Pursuer 
6.      Victim of Cruelty or Misfortune - Unfortunates, Master or Unlucky
Person 
7.      Disaster - Vanquished Power, Victorious Power or Messenger 
8.      Revolt - Tyrant, Conspirator(s) 
9.      Daring Enterprise - Bold Leader, Goal, Adversary 
10.     Abduction - Abductor, Abducted, Guardian 
11.     Enigma - Interrogator, Seeker, Problem 
12.     Obtaining - Two or more Opposing Parties, Object, maybe an
Arbitrator 
13.     Familial Hatred - Two Family Members who hate each other 
14.     Familial Rivalry - Preferred Kinsman, Rejected Kinsman, Object 
15.     Murderous Adultery - Two Adulterers, the Betrayed 
16.     Madness - Madman, Victim 
17.     Fatal Imprudence - Imprudent person, Victim or lost object 
18.     Involuntary Crimes of Love - Lover, Beloved, Revealer 
19.     Kinsman Kills Unrecognised Kinsman - Killer, Unrecognised Victim,
Revealer 
20.     Self Sacrifice for an Ideal - Hero, Ideal, Person or Thing
Sacrificed 
21.     Self Sacrifice for Kindred - Hero, Kinsman, Person or Thing
Sacrificed 
22.     All Sacrificed for Passion - Lover, Object of Passion, Person or
Thing Sacrificed 
23.     Sacrifice of Loved Ones - Hero, Beloved Victim, Need for Sacrifice 
24.     Rivalry Between Superior and Inferior - Superior, Inferior, Object 
25.     Adultery - Deceived Spouse, Two Adulterers 
26.     Crimes of Love - Lover, Beloved, theme of Dissolution 
27.     Discovery of Dishonor of a Loved One - Discoverer, Guilty One 
28.     Obstacles to Love - Two Lovers, Obstacle 
29.     An Enemy Loved - Beloved Enemy, Lover, Hater 
30.     Ambition - An Ambitious Person, Coveted Thing, Adversary 
31.     Conflict with a God - Mortal, Immortal 
32.     Mistaken Jealousy - Jealous One, Object of Jealousy, Supposed
Accomplice, Author of Mistake 
33.     Faulty Judgment - Mistaken One, Victim of Mistake, Author of
Mistake, Guilty Person 
34.     Remorse - Culprit, Victim, Interrogator 
35.     Recovery of a Lost One - Seeker, One Found 
36.     Loss of Loved Ones - Kinsman Slain, Kinsman Witness, Executioner

Now where's that novel you were working on?



posted by Jerry Michalski at 9:14
<http://www.sociate.com/blog/archives/2004_08_01_archive.html#10927151200087
2509> AM

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