In 1895 French writer Georges Polti drew up a list of every dramatic situation that might arise in a story or performance, based on an earlier list drawn up by Venetian playwright Carlo Gozzi. They number only 36 — Polti listed the elements necessary for each:
- Supplication (“a Persecutor, a Suppliant and a Power in authority, whose decision is doubtful”)
- Deliverance (“an Unfortunate, a Threatener, a Rescuer”)
- Crime Pursued by Vengeance (“an Avenger and a Criminal”)
- Vengeance Taken for Kindred Upon Kindred (“Avenging Kinsman, Guilty Kinsman, Remembrance of the Victim, a Relative of Both”)
- Pursuit (“Punishment and Fugitive”)
- Disaster (“a Vanquished Power, a Victorious Enemy or a Messenger”)
- Falling Prey to Cruelty or Misfortune (“an Unfortunate, a Master or a Misfortune”)
- Revolt (“Tyrant and Conspirator”)
- Daring Enterprise (“A Bold Leader, an Object, an Adversary”)
- Abduction (“The Abductor, the Abducted; the Guardian”)
- The Enigma (“Interrogator, Seeker and Problem”)
- Obtaining (“A Solicitor and an Adversary Who Is Refusing, or an Arbitrator and Opposing Parties”)
- Enmity of Kinsmen (“a Malevolent Kinsman; a Hated or Reciprocally Hating Kinsman”)
- Rivalry of Kinsmen (“The Preferred Kinsman; the Rejected Kinsman; the Object”)
- Murderous Adultery (“Two Adulterers; a Betrayed Husband or Wife”)
- Madness (“Madman and Victim”)
- Fatal Imprudence (“The Imprudent; the Victim or the Object Lost”)
- Involuntary Crimes of Love (“The Lover; the Beloved; the Revealer”)
- Slaying of a Kinsman Unrecognized (“The Slayer; the Unrecognized Victim”)
- Self-Sacrifice for an Ideal (“The Hero; the Ideal; the ‘Creditor’ or the Person or Thing Sacrificed”)
- Self-Sacrifice for Kindred (“The Hero; the Kinsman; the ‘Creditor’ or the Person or Thing Sacrificed”)
- All Sacrificed for a Passion (“The Lover; the Object of the Fatal Passion; the Person or Thing Sacrificed”)
- Necessity of Sacrificing Loved Ones (“The Hero; the Beloved Victim; the Necessity for the Sacrifice”)
- Rivalry of Superior and Inferior (“The Superior Rival; the Inferior Rival; the Object”)
- Adultery (“A Deceived Husband or Wife; Two Adulterers”)
- Crimes of Love (“The Lover; the Beloved”)
- Discovery of the Dishonor of a Loved One (“The Discoverer; the Guilty One”)
- Obstacles to Love (“Two Lovers; an Obstacle”)
- An Enemy Loved (“The Beloved Enemy; the Lover; the Hater”)
- Ambition (“An Ambitious Person; a Thing Coveted; an Adversary”)
- Conflict With a God (“A Mortal; an Immortal”)
- Mistaken Jealousy (“The Jealous One; The Object of Whose Possession He Is Jealous; the Supposed Accomplice; the Cause or the Author of the Mistake”)
- Erroneous Judgment (“The Mistaken One; the Victim of the Mistake; the Cause or Author of the Mistake; the Guilty Person”)
- Remorse (“The Culprit; the Victim or the Sin; the Interrogator”)
- Recovery of a Lost One (“The Seeker; the One Found”)
- Loss of Loved Ones (“A Kinsman Slain; a Kinsman Spectator; an Executioner”)
Each situation has its variations; for example, The Count of Monte Cristo is a Revenge for a False Accusation, a variation on the Crime Pursued by Vengeance; and Great Expectations is a Life Sacrificed for the Happiness of a Relative or Loved One, a variation on Self-Sacrifice for Kindred.