Plots Definition In Literature

Plots Definition In Literature

Noun a secret plan or scheme to accomplish some purpose, especially a hostile, unlawful, or evil purpose: a plot to overthrow the government. Also called storyline. The plan, scheme, or main story of a literary or dramatic work, as a play, novel, or short story. Verb (used with object), plotted, plotting. The plot basically refers to the main outcome and order of the story. There is another kind of plot in literature as well; it refers to the conflict or clash occurring as a part of the story. The conflict usually follows 3 regular formats: a) characters in conflict with one another b) characters in conflict with their surroundings and c.
The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations is a descriptive list which was created by Georges Polti to categorize every dramatic situation that might occur in a story or performance.[1] To do this Polti analyzed classical Greek texts, plus classical and contemporaneous French works. He also analyzed a handful of non-French authors. In his introduction, Polti claims to be continuing the work of Carlo Gozzi, who also identified 36 situations.
Plots Definition In LiteraturePublication history[edit]'Gozzi maintained that there can be but thirty-six tragic situations. Schiller took great pains to find more, but he was unable to find even so many as Gozzi.'

What Does Plot Mean In A Story

—Goethe[2]
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 1895.[3] 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.
It influenced Christina Stead and George Pierce Baker, the author of Dramatic Technique.[4] The situations have been critiqued as being 'concatenations of events rather than minimal or isolable motifs'.[5]
The 36 situations[edit]Each situation is stated, then followed by the necessary elements for each situation and a brief description.
Supplicationa persecutor; a suppliant; a power in authority, whose decision is doubtful.
The suppliant appeals to the power in authority for deliverance from the persecutor. The power in authority may be a distinct person or be merely an attribute of the persecutor, e.g. a weapon suspended in their hand. The suppliant may also be two persons, the Persecuted and the Intercessor, an example of which is Esther interceding to the king on behalf of the Jews for deliverance from the king's chief advisor.
Deliverancean unfortunate; a threatener; a rescuer
The unfortunate has caused a conflict, and the threatener is to carry out justice, but the rescuer saves the unfortunate. Examples: Ifigenia in Tauride, Deliverance
Crime pursued by vengeancea criminal; an avenger
The criminal commits a crime that will not see justice, so the avenger seeks justice by punishing the criminal. Example: The Count of Monte Cristo
Vengeance taken for kin upon kinGuilty Kinsman; an Avenging Kinsman; remembrance of the Victim, a relative of both.
Two entities, the Guilty and the Avenging Kinsmen, are put into conflict over wrongdoing to the Victim, who is allied to both. Example: Hamlet
Pursuitpunishment; a fugitive
the fugitive flees punishment for a misunderstood conflict. Example: Les Misérables, The Fugitive
Disastera vanquished power; a victorious enemy or a messenger
The vanquished power falls from their place after being defeated by the victorious enemy or being informed of such a defeat by the messenger. Example: Agamemnon (play)
Falling prey to cruelty/misfortunean unfortunate; a master or a misfortune
The unfortunate suffers from misfortune and/or at the hands of the master. Example: Job (biblical figure)
Revolta tyrant; a conspirator
The tyrant, a cruel power, is plotted against by the conspirator. Example: Julius Caesar (play)
Daring enterprisea bold leader; an object; an adversary
The bold leader takes the object from the adversary by overpowering the adversary. Example: Queste del Saint Graal, The Lord of the Rings
Abductionan abductor; the abducted; a guardian
The abductor takes the abducted from the guardian. Example: Helen of Troy
The enigmaa problem; an interrogator; a seeker
The interrogator poses a problem to the seeker and gives a seeker better ability to reach the seeker's goals. Example: Oedipus and the Sphinx
Obtaining(a Solicitor & an adversary who is refusing) or (an arbitrator & opposing parties)
The solicitor is at odds with the adversary who refuses to give the solicitor an object in the possession of the adversary, or an arbitrator decides who gets the object desired by opposing parties (the solicitor and the adversary). Example: Apple of Discord
Enmity of kina Malevolent Kinsman; a Hatedor a reciprocally-hating Kinsman
The Malevolent Kinsman and the Hated or a second Malevolent Kinsman conspire together. Example: As You Like It
Rivalry of kinthe Preferred Kinsman; the Rejected Kinsman; the Object of Rivalry
The Object of Rivalry chooses the Preferred Kinsman over the Rejected Kinsman. Example: Wuthering Heights
Murderous adulterytwo Adulterers; a Betrayed Spouse
Two Adulterers conspire to kill the Betrayed Spouse. Example: Clytemnestra, Aegisthus, Double Indemnity
Madnessa Madman; a Victim
The Madman goes insane and wrongs the Victim. Example: The Shining (novel)
Fatalimprudencethe Imprudent; a Victim or an Object Lost
The Imprudent, by neglect or ignorance, loses the Object Lost or wrongs the Victim.
Involuntary crimes of lovea Lover; a Beloved; a Revealer
The Lover and the Beloved have unknowingly broken a taboo through their romantic relationship, and the Revealer reveals this to them Example: Oedipus, Jocasta and the messenger from Corinth.
Slaying of kin unrecognizedthe Slayer; an Unrecognized Victim
The Slayer kills the Unrecognized Victim. Example: Oedipus and Laius
Self-sacrifice for an ideala Hero; an Ideal; a Creditoror a Person/Thing sacrificed
The Hero sacrifices the Person or Thing for their Ideal, which is then taken by the Creditor. Example: The gospel
Self-sacrifice for kina Hero; a Kinsman; a Creditor or a Person/Thing sacrificed
The Hero sacrifices a Person or Thing for their Kinsman, which is then taken by the Creditor. Example: The gospel
All sacrificed for passiona Lover; an Object of fatal Passion; the Person/Thing sacrificed
A Lover sacrifices a Person or Thing for the Object of their Passion, which is then lost forever.
Necessity of sacrificing loved onesa Hero; a Beloved Victim; the Necessity for the Sacrifice
The Hero wrongs the Beloved Victim because of the Necessity for their Sacrifice.
Rivalry of superior vs. inferiora Superior Rival; an Inferior Rival; the Object of Rivalry
A Superior Rival bests an Inferior Rival and wins the Object of Rivalry.
Adulterytwo Adulterers; a Deceived Spouse
Two Adulterers conspire against the Deceived Spouse.
Crimes of lovea Lover; the Beloved
A Lover and the Beloved break a taboo by initiating a romantic relationship Example: Sigmund and his sister in The Valkyrie
Discovery of the dishonour of a loved onea Discoverer; the Guilty One
The Discoverer discovers the wrongdoing committed by the Guilty One.
Obstacles to lovetwo Lovers; an Obstacle
Two Lovers face an Obstacle together. Example: Romeo and Juliet
An enemy loveda Lover; the Beloved Enemy; the Hater
The allied Lover and Hater have diametrically opposed attitudes towards the Beloved Enemy.
Ambitionan Ambitious Person; a Thing Coveted; an Adversary
The Ambitious Person seeks the Thing Coveted and is opposed by the Adversary. Example: Macbeth
Conflict with a goda Mortal; an Immortal
The Mortal and the Immortal enter a conflict.
Mistakenjealousya Jealous One; an Object of whose Possession He is Jealous; a Supposed Accomplice; a Cause or an Author of the Mistake
The Jealous One falls victim to the Cause or the Author of the Mistake and becomes jealous of the Object and becomes conflicted with the Supposed Accomplice.
Erroneousjudgmenta Mistaken One; a Victim of the Mistake; a Causeor Author of the Mistake; the Guilty One
The Mistaken One falls victim to the Cause or the Author of the Mistake and passes judgment against the Victim of the Mistake when it should be passed against the Guilty One instead.
Remorsea Culprit; a Victim or the Sin; an Interrogator
The Culprit wrongs the Victim or commits the Sin, and is at odds with the Interrogator who seeks to understand the situation. Example: The Bourne Supremacy
Recovery of a lost onea Seeker; the One Found
The Seeker finds the One Found. Example: A Very Long Engagement
Loss of loved onesa Kinsman Slain; a Kinsman Spectator; an Executioner
The killing of the Kinsman Slain by the Executioner is witnessed by the Kinsman. Example: Braveheart
See also[edit]References[edit]^Schmidt, Victoria Lynn (2005). 'Part 3: Adding Stories'. Story Structure Architect (First ed.). Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer's Digest Books. ISBN9781582976990. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
^Polti, Georges (1921) [1916]. The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations. Franklin, Ohio: James Knapp Reeve. p. 3.
^Figgis, Mike (May 2017). 'Introduction'. The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations. Faber and Faber. ISBN9780571305056. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
^Burns, Alison; Goodrich, R. A. (2015). 'Christina Stead, Georges Polti, and Analytical Novel Writing'. Antipodes. 29 (2): 415–28. doi:10.13110/antipodes.29.2.0415. JSTOR10.13110/antipodes.29.2.0415.
^Lowe, N. J. (June 2000). The Classical Plot and the Invention of Western Narrative. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 9. ISBN0521771765. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
External links[edit]Full text available at Internet Archive
Full text available at Wikisource

What Does Plot Mean In A Story—Goethe[2]
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 1895.[3] 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.
It influenced Christina Stead and George Pierce Baker, the author of Dramatic Technique.[4] The situations have been critiqued as being 'concatenations of events rather than minimal or isolable motifs'.[5]
The 36 situations[edit]Each situation is stated, then followed by the necessary elements for each situation and a brief description.
Supplicationa persecutor; a suppliant; a power in authority, whose decision is doubtful.
The suppliant appeals to the power in authority for deliverance from the persecutor. The power in authority may be a distinct person or be merely an attribute of the persecutor, e.g. a weapon suspended in their hand. The suppliant may also be two persons, the Persecuted and the Intercessor, an example of which is Esther interceding to the king on behalf of the Jews for deliverance from the king's chief advisor.
Deliverancean unfortunate; a threatener; a rescuer
The unfortunate has caused a conflict, and the threatener is to carry out justice, but the rescuer saves the unfortunate. Examples: Ifigenia in Tauride, Deliverance
Crime pursued by vengeancea criminal; an avenger
The criminal commits a crime that will not see justice, so the avenger seeks justice by punishing the criminal. Example: The Count of Monte Cristo
Vengeance taken for kin upon kinGuilty Kinsman; an Avenging Kinsman; remembrance of the Victim, a relative of both.
Two entities, the Guilty and the Avenging Kinsmen, are put into conflict over wrongdoing to the Victim, who is allied to both. Example: Hamlet
Pursuitpunishment; a fugitive
the fugitive flees punishment for a misunderstood conflict. Example: Les Misérables, The Fugitive
Disastera vanquished power; a victorious enemy or a messenger
The vanquished power falls from their place after being defeated by the victorious enemy or being informed of such a defeat by the messenger. Example: Agamemnon (play)
Falling prey to cruelty/misfortunean unfortunate; a master or a misfortune
The unfortunate suffers from misfortune and/or at the hands of the master. Example: Job (biblical figure)
Revolta tyrant; a conspirator
The tyrant, a cruel power, is plotted against by the conspirator. Example: Julius Caesar (play)
Daring enterprisea bold leader; an object; an adversary
The bold leader takes the object from the adversary by overpowering the adversary. Example: Queste del Saint Graal, The Lord of the Rings
Abductionan abductor; the abducted; a guardian
The abductor takes the abducted from the guardian. Example: Helen of Troy
The enigmaa problem; an interrogator; a seeker
The interrogator poses a problem to the seeker and gives a seeker better ability to reach the seeker's goals. Example: Oedipus and the Sphinx
Obtaining(a Solicitor & an adversary who is refusing) or (an arbitrator & opposing parties)
The solicitor is at odds with the adversary who refuses to give the solicitor an object in the possession of the adversary, or an arbitrator decides who gets the object desired by opposing parties (the solicitor and the adversary). Example: Apple of Discord
Enmity of kina Malevolent Kinsman; a Hatedor a reciprocally-hating Kinsman
The Malevolent Kinsman and the Hated or a second Malevolent Kinsman conspire together. Example: As You Like It
Rivalry of kinthe Preferred Kinsman; the Rejected Kinsman; the Object of Rivalry
The Object of Rivalry chooses the Preferred Kinsman over the Rejected Kinsman. Example: Wuthering Heights
Murderous adulterytwo Adulterers; a Betrayed Spouse
Two Adulterers conspire to kill the Betrayed Spouse. Example: Clytemnestra, Aegisthus, Double Indemnity
Madnessa Madman; a Victim
The Madman goes insane and wrongs the Victim. Example: The Shining (novel)
Fatalimprudencethe Imprudent; a Victim or an Object Lost
The Imprudent, by neglect or ignorance, loses the Object Lost or wrongs the Victim.
Involuntary crimes of lovea Lover; a Beloved; a Revealer
The Lover and the Beloved have unknowingly broken a taboo through their romantic relationship, and the Revealer reveals this to them Example: Oedipus, Jocasta and the messenger from Corinth.
Slaying of kin unrecognizedthe Slayer; an Unrecognized Victim
The Slayer kills the Unrecognized Victim. Example: Oedipus and Laius
Self-sacrifice for an ideala Hero; an Ideal; a Creditoror a Person/Thing sacrificed
The Hero sacrifices the Person or Thing for their Ideal, which is then taken by the Creditor. Example: The gospel
Self-sacrifice for kina Hero; a Kinsman; a Creditor or a Person/Thing sacrificed
The Hero sacrifices a Person or Thing for their Kinsman, which is then taken by the Creditor. Example: The gospel
All sacrificed for passiona Lover; an Object of fatal Passion; the Person/Thing sacrificed
A Lover sacrifices a Person or Thing for the Object of their Passion, which is then lost forever.
Necessity of sacrificing loved onesa Hero; a Beloved Victim; the Necessity for the Sacrifice
The Hero wrongs the Beloved Victim because of the Necessity for their Sacrifice.
Rivalry of superior vs. inferiora Superior Rival; an Inferior Rival; the Object of Rivalry
A Superior Rival bests an Inferior Rival and wins the Object of Rivalry.
Adulterytwo Adulterers; a Deceived Spouse
Two Adulterers conspire against the Deceived Spouse.
Crimes of lovea Lover; the Beloved
A Lover and the Beloved break a taboo by initiating a romantic relationship Example: Sigmund and his sister in The Valkyrie
Discovery of the dishonour of a loved onea Discoverer; the Guilty One
The Discoverer discovers the wrongdoing committed by the Guilty One.
Obstacles to lovetwo Lovers; an Obstacle
Two Lovers face an Obstacle together. Example: Romeo and Juliet
An enemy loveda Lover; the Beloved Enemy; the Hater
The allied Lover and Hater have diametrically opposed attitudes towards the Beloved Enemy.
Ambitionan Ambitious Person; a Thing Coveted; an Adversary
The Ambitious Person seeks the Thing Coveted and is opposed by the Adversary. Example: Macbeth
Conflict with a goda Mortal; an Immortal
The Mortal and the Immortal enter a conflict.
Mistakenjealousya Jealous One; an Object of whose Possession He is Jealous; a Supposed Accomplice; a Cause or an Author of the Mistake
The Jealous One falls victim to the Cause or the Author of the Mistake and becomes jealous of the Object and becomes conflicted with the Supposed Accomplice.
Erroneousjudgmenta Mistaken One; a Victim of the Mistake; a Causeor Author of the Mistake; the Guilty One
The Mistaken One falls victim to the Cause or the Author of the Mistake and passes judgment against the Victim of the Mistake when it should be passed against the Guilty One instead.
Remorsea Culprit; a Victim or the Sin; an Interrogator
The Culprit wrongs the Victim or commits the Sin, and is at odds with the Interrogator who seeks to understand the situation. Example: The Bourne Supremacy
Recovery of a lost onea Seeker; the One Found
The Seeker finds the One Found. Example: A Very Long Engagement
Loss of loved onesa Kinsman Slain; a Kinsman Spectator; an Executioner
The killing of the Kinsman Slain by the Executioner is witnessed by the Kinsman. Example: Braveheart
See also[edit]References[edit]^Schmidt, Victoria Lynn (2005). 'Part 3: Adding Stories'. Story Structure Architect (First ed.). Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer's Digest Books. ISBN9781582976990. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
^Polti, Georges (1921) [1916]. The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations. Franklin, Ohio: James Knapp Reeve. p. 3.
^Figgis, Mike (May 2017). 'Introduction'. The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations. Faber and Faber. ISBN9780571305056. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
^Burns, Alison; Goodrich, R. A. (2015). 'Christina Stead, Georges Polti, and Analytical Novel Writing'. Antipodes. 29 (2): 415–28. doi:10.13110/antipodes.29.2.0415. JSTOR10.13110/antipodes.29.2.0415.
^Lowe, N. J. (June 2000). The Classical Plot and the Invention of Western Narrative. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 9. ISBN0521771765. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
External links[edit]Full text available at Internet Archive
Full text available at Wikisource
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Thirty-Six_Dramatic_Situations&oldid=1002852608'
plotplot1 /plɒt $ plɑːt/W3 noun [countable]Plot Definition In Literature1planPLAN a secret plan by a group of people to do something harmful or illegalplot to do somethinga plot to bomb the UN headquartersplot againsta plot against the kingThe court heard how she and her lover hatched a plot (=planned a plot) to kill her husband.The plot to overthrow the military government was foiled (=prevented from being successful).an assassination plot► see thesaurus at planPlots Meaning In Literature2story/filmALSTORY the events that form the mainstory of a book, film, or playThe plot was a little confusing.We discover that Jack isn't as innocent as he seems, as the plot unfolds (=gradually becomes clearer).3 →the plot thickens4piece of landa)LAND/GROUNDa small piece of land for building or growing things ona two-acre plot of landa vegetable plotb)MXa piece of land that a particular family owns in a cemetery, in which members of the family are buried when they diea burial plot5drawing American EnglishAA a drawing that shows the plan of a building at ground levelSYN ground plan →lose the plotCOLLOCATIONSverbsbe involved in a plotHe was involved in a plot to kidnap the pope.mastermind a plot (=organize it)He is accused of masterminding a plot to bring down the government.uncover/discover a plotThey didn't suspect that their plot had been uncovered.foil a plot (=prevent it from being successful)The plot was foiled when he was stopped by US Customs agents.hatch a plot (=make one)They have admitted hatching a plot to kill the president.NOUN + plota murder plotHe was questioned about an attempted murder plot.an assassination plotThe assassination plot to kill General de Gaulle was unsuccessful.a terrorist plotPolice foiled a terrorist plot to attack a nuclear reactor.phrasesthe victim of a plotHe was the victim of a plot by his political opponents.be part of a plotThese accusations are part of a plot to discredit him.