The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations is a descriptive list which was created by Georges Polti in 1868 to categorize every dramatic situation which might occur in a story or performance. He later said that the number 36 was not special, that other longer or shorter lists could also be made. The list was created as an aid for writers, but has become popular with dramatists, storytellers and many others. Other similar lists have since been made and popularized, but this one remains in active circulation.
Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations is also the name of a book by Polti with extended explanations, examples, and variations on this list. An English translation of this book was reprinted in 2003.
The 36 Situations
Supplication
a Persecutor; a Supplicant; a Power in authority, whose decision is doubtful.
Deliverance
an Unfortunate; a Threatener; a Rescuer
Crime pursued by vengeance
an Avenger; a Criminal
Vengeance taken for kin upon kin
an Avenging Kinsman; Guilty Kinsman; remembrance of the Victim; a Relative of both
Pursuit
Punishment; a Fugitive
Disaster
a Vanquished Power; a Victorious Enemy or a Messenger
Falling prey to cruelty/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
an Interrogator; a Seeker; a Problem
Obtaining
(a Solicitor & an Adversary who is refusing) or (an Arbitrator & Opposing Parties)
Enmity of kin
a Malevolent Kinsman; a Hatred 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 v. 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
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36 Hours that changed everything was the name of a series of romance novels released by Silhouette in 1997-98 concerning the troubles faced by different residents of Grand Springs, Colorado during a 36-hour flout.
In Stargate: Atlantis the stargates of the Pegasus galaxy have 36 symbols.
The Thirty-Six DramaticSituations is a descriptive list which was created by Georges Polti to categorize every dramaticsituation which might occur in a story or performance.
He later said that the number 36 was not special, that other longer or shorter lists could also be made.
Thirty-Six DramaticSituations was also a book by Polti with extended explanations, examples, and variations on the list of such situations that he created.
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