Friday Five: An Introduction into the 36 Dramatic Situations

In 1945, French writer Georges Polti presented the writing world with a master list of 36 dramatic situations to use in fiction writing. Pretty sure in the modern day, we can expound on that list (and many have, including a few writing book authors out there) but understanding the core 36 is a great start for any writer.

And, because I am due for a Friday Five post, I figure I just bought the next five or so weeks' worth of Friday Fives for myself. Yes!

So here are today's five (1-5) of Polti's 36 Dramatic Situations:

1. Supplication:

• Elements: Persecutor, Supplicant, Power in Authority whose decision is doubtful
• Summary: The Supplicant is chased, harmed or otherwise threatened by the Persecutor and begs for help from the Power in Authority.

2. Deliverance:

• Elements: An Unfortunate, a Threatener, A Rescuer
  
• Summary: The Unfortunate is threatened in some way by the Threatener and is saved by the Rescuer.

3. Vengeance of a Crime:

• Elements: An Avenger, a Criminal
  
• Summary: The Avenger wreaks vengeance on the Criminal for past crimes.

4. Vengeance taken for a kindred upon a kindred:

• Elements: Avenging kinsman,Guilty kinsman, Remembrance of the victim, A relative of both
• Summary: One family member, the Guilty Kinsman, harms another (the Victim). They are punished for this serious transgression by an Avenging Kinsman

5. Pursuit:

• Elements: Punishment, A Fugitive
  
• Summary: A Fugitive is pursued, caught and Punished for some miscreant act.

Today's beautiful fellow FIVERS: Moira, Gina