[sociate] The 36 Ur-plots
- From: "Jerry Michalski" <jerry@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Sociate News" <sociate@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2004 09:59:58 -0400
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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