36 Dramatic Situations

 

This list was published in a book of the same name, which contains extended explanations and examples. The original French-language book was written in the 19th century. An English translation was published in 1916 and continues to be reprinted to this day.

The list is popularized as an aid for writers, but it is also used by dramatists, storytellers and many others. Other similar lists have since been made.

Situations                - followed by -necessary elements for each .

Supplication

a Persecutor; a Supplicant; a Power in authority, whose decision is doubtful.

Deliverance

an Unfortunate; a Threatener; a Rescuer

Crime pursued by vengeance

a Criminal; an Avenger

Vengeance taken for kin upon kin

Guilty Kinsman; an Avenging Kinsman; remembrance of the Victim, a relative of both

Pursuit

Punishment; a Fugitive

Disaster

Vanquished Power; a Victorious Enemy or a Messenger

Falling prey to cruelt/misfortune

an Unfortunate; a Master or a Misfortune

Revolt

a Tyrant; a Conspirator

Daring enterprise

a Bold Leader; an Object; an Adversary

Abduction

 an Abductor; the Abducted; a Guardian

The enigma

a Problem; an Interrogator; a Seeker

Obtaining (a Solicitor & an Adversary who is refusing

) or (an Arbitrator & Opposing Parties)

Enmity of kin

a Malevolent Kinsman; a Hated or a reciprocally-hating Kinsman

Rivalry of kin

the Preferred Kinsman; the Rejected Kinsman; the Object of Rivalry

Murderous adultery

two Adulterers; a Betrayed Spouse

Madness

a Madman; a Victim

Fatal imprudence

the Imprudent; a Victim or an Object Lost

Involuntary crimes of love

a Lover; a Beloved; a Revealer

Slaying of kin unrecognized

the Slayer; an Unrecognized Victim

Self-sacrifice for an ideal

 

a Hero; an Ideal; a Creditor or a Person/Thing sacrificed

Self-sacrifice for kin

A Hero; a Kinsman; a Creditor or a Person/Thing sacrificed

All sacrificed for passion

a Lover; an Object of fatal Passion; the Person/Thing sacrificed

Necessity of sacrificing loved ones

a Hero; a Beloved Victim; the Necessity for the Sacrifice

Rivalry of superior vs. inferior

a Superior Rival; an Inferior Rival; the Object of Rivalry

Adultery

two Adulterers; a Deceived Spouse

Crimes of love

a Lover; the Beloved

Discovery of the dishonour of a loved one

a Discoverer; the Guilty One

Obstacles to love

two Lovers; an Obstacle

An enemy loved

a Lover; the Beloved Enemy; the Hater

Ambition

an Ambitious Person; a Thing Coveted; an Adversary

Conflict with a god

a Mortal; an Immortal

Mistaken jealousy

a Jealous One; an Object of whose Possession He is Jealous; a Supposed Accomplice; a Cause or an Author of the Mistake

Erroneous judgement

a Mistaken One; a Victim of the Mistake; a Cause or Author of the Mistake; the Guilty One

Remorse

a Culprit; a Victim or the Sin; an Interrogator

 

Recovery of a lost one

 

a Seeker; the One Found

Loss of loved ones

a Kinsman Slain; a Kinsman Spectator; an Executioner