The 36 Situations by George Polti
36 Mini Lessons
1. Read the paragraph
2. Translate it into your native language
3. Speak the paragraph aloud in English
4. Write about a situation in your life when that law applied.
5. Do the vocabulary, repeating each word in English 5 times
Discuss the ideas behind the law in English with your friends via skype, phone, e mail, or instant message
Each situation is stated, then followed by the necessary elements for each situation and a brief description.
The following are the 36 basic plots which all stories are based on. They are ideal for quick guided role-playing and conversation games. Also good for use with games like interview, 2 truths and a lie, answer question with question, subtitles
1. Supplication
o a Persecutor; a Suppliant; a Power in authority, whose decision is doubtful.
o The Persecutor accuses the Suppliant of wrongdoing, and the Power makes a judgment against the Suppliant.
Vocabulary – Supplication, persecutor,supplicant,authority, accuses, judgement
2. Deliverance
o an Unfortunate; a Threatener; a Rescuer
o The Unfortunate has caused a conflict, and the Threatener is to carry out justice, but the Rescuer saves the Unfortunate.
Vocabulary – deliverance, threatener, rescuer
3. Crime pursued by vengeance
o a Criminal; an Avenger
o The Criminal commits a crime that will not see justice, so the Avenger seeks justice by punishing the Criminal.
Vocabulary – crime, vengeance
4. Vengeance taken for kin upon kin
o Guilty Kinsman; an Avenging Kinsman; remembrance of the Victim, a relative of both
o Two entities, the Guilty and the Avenging Kinsmen, are put into conflict over wrongdoing to the Victim, who is allied to both.
Vocabulary – Kin, remebrance
5. Pursuit
o Punishment; a Fugitive
o The Fugitive flees Punishment for a misunderstood conflict.
Vocabulary – pursuit, punishment, fugitive
6. Disaster
o a Vanquished Power; a Victorious Enemy or a Messenger
o The Power falls from their place after being defeated by the Victorious Enemy or being informed of such a defeat by the Messenger.
Vocabulary – disaster, victorius, messenger, vanquished
7. Falling prey to cruelty/misfortune
o an Unfortunate; a Master or a Misfortune
o The Unfortunate suffers from Misfortune and/or at the hands of the Master.
Vocabulary – fortune, fortunate, misfortune, unfortunate
8. Revolt
o a Tyrant; a Conspirator
o The Tyrant, a cruel power, is plotted against by the Conspirator.
Vocabulary – brevolt, tyant, conspirator
9. Daring enterprise
o a Bold Leader; an Object; an Adversary
o The Bold Leader takes the Object from the Adversary by overpowering the Adversary.
Vocabulary – enterprise, bold, leader, adversary
10. Abduction
o an Abductor; the Abducted; a Guardian
o The Abductor takes the Abducted from the Guardian.
Vocabulary – abduction, abductor, guardian
11. The enigma
o a Problem; an Interrogator; a Seeker
o The Interrogator poses a Problem to the Seeker and gives a Seeker better ability to reach the Seeker's goals.
Vocabulary – enigma, problem, interrogator, seeker
12. Obtaining
o (a Solicitor & an Adversary who is refusing) or (an Arbitrator & Opposing Parties)
o The Solicitor is at odds with the Adversary who refuses to give the Solicitor what they Object in the possession of the Adversary, or an Arbitrator decides who gets the Object desired by Opposing Parties (the Solicitor and the Adversary).
Vocabulary – obtain, obtaining, solicitor, opposing
13. Enmity of kin
o a Malevolent Kinsman; a Hated or a reciprocally-hating Kinsman
o The Malevolent Kinsman and the Hated or a second Malevolent Kinsman conspire together.
Vocabulary – enmity, malevolent, hated
14. Rivalry of kin
o the Preferred Kinsman; the Rejected Kinsman; the Object of Rivalry
o The Object of Rivalry chooses the Preferred Kinsman over the Rejected Kinsman.
Vovabuary – malevolent, hated, rivalry, rejected
15. Murderous adultery
o two Adulterers; a Betrayed Spouse
o Two Adulterers conspire to kill the Betrayed Spouse.
Vocabulary – muderous, adultery, spouse
16. Madness
o a Madman; a Victim
o The Madman goes insane and wrongs the Victim.
Vocabulary - madness
17. Fatal imprudence
o the Imprudent; a Victim or an Object Lost
o The Imprudent, by neglect or ignorance, loses the Object Lost or wrongs the Victim.
Vocabulary – fatal, imprudence
18. Involuntary crimes of love
o a Lover; a Beloved; a Revealer
o The Revealer betrays the trust of either the Lover or the Beloved.
Vocabulary – involuntary, reveal, revealer
19. Slaying of kin unrecognized
o the Slayer; an Unrecognized Victim
o The Slayer kills the Unrecognized Victim.
Vocabulary – slayer, recognized, unreconized
20. Self-sacrifice for an ideal
o a Hero; an Ideal; a Creditor or a Person/Thing sacrificed
o The Hero sacrifices the Person or Thing for their Ideal, which is then taken by the Creditor.
Vocabulary – hero, ideal, creditro
21. Self-sacrifice for kin
o a Hero; a Kinsman; a Creditor or a Person/Thing sacrificed
o The Hero sacrifices a Person or Thing for their Kinsman, which is then taken by the Creditor.
Vocabulary – sacrifice, self sacrifice
22. All sacrificed for passion
o a Lover; an Object of fatal Passion; the Person/Thing sacrificed
o A Lover sacrifices a Person or Thing for the Object of their Passion, which is then lost forever.
Vocabulary - passion
23. Necessity of sacrificing loved ones
o a Hero; a Beloved Victim; the Necessity for the Sacrifice
o The Hero wrongs the Beloved Victim because of the Necessity for their Sacrifice.
Vocabulary – necessity, beloved
24. Rivalry of superior vs. inferior
o a Superior Rival; an Inferior Rival; the Object of Rivalry
o A Superior Rival bests an Inferior Rival and wins the Object of Rivalry.
Vocabulary – Inferior, superior
25. Adultery
o two Adulterers; a Deceived Spouse
o Two Adulterers conspire against the Deceived Spouse.
Vocabulary – adultery, deceived
26. Crimes of love
o a Lover; the Beloved
o A Lover and the Beloved enter a conflict.
Vocabulary - conflict
27. Discovery of the dishonour of a loved one
o a Discoverer; the Guilty One
o The Discoverer discovers the wrongdoing committed by the Guilty One.
Vocabulary – discover, dishonour, wrongdoing
28. Obstacles to love
o two Lovers; an Obstacle
o Two Lovers face an Obstacle together.
Vocabulary - obstacle
29. An enemy loved
o a Lover; the Beloved Enemy; the Hater
o The allied Lover and Hater have diametrically opposed attitudes towards the Beloved Enemy.
Vocabulary – enemy, hater
30. Ambition
o an Ambitious Person; a Thing Coveted; an Adversary
o The Ambitious Person seeks the Thing Coveted and is opposed by the Adversary.
Vocabgulary – ambition, coveted,adversary
31. Conflict with a god
o a Mortal; an Immortal
o The Mortal and the Immortal enter a conflict.
Vocabulary – god, mortal, immortal
32. Mistaken jealousy
o a Jealous One; an Object of whose Possession He is Jealous; a Supposed Accomplice; a Cause or an Author of the Mistake
o 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.
Vocabulary – mistaken, jealousy, possession, accomplise, supposed
33. Erroneous judgement
o a Mistaken One; a Victim of the Mistake; a Cause or Author of the Mistake; the Guilty One
o The Mistaken One falls victim to the Cause of the Author of the Mistake and passes judgment against the Victim of the Mistake when it should be passed against the Guilty One instead.
Vocabulary – erroneous, judgement, cause, author, mistake, instead
34. Remorse
o a Culprit; a Victim or the Sin; an Interrogator
o The Culprit wrongs the Victim or commits the Sin, and is at odds with the Interrogator who seeks to understand the situation.
Vocabulary – remorse, culprit
35. Recovery of a lost one
o a Seeker; the One Found
o The Seeker finds the One Found.
Vocabulary – recover, seeker, lost, found
36. Loss of loved ones
o a Kinsman Slain; a Kinsman Spectator; an Executioner
o The killing of the Kinsman Slain by the Executioner is witnessed by the Kinsman Spectator.
Vocabulary – loss, slain, execute, executioner, executor, slain
36 Mini Lessons
1. Read the paragraph
2. Translate it into your native language
3. Speak the paragraph aloud in English
4. Write about a situation in your life when that law applied.
5. Do the vocabulary, repeating each word in English 5 times
Discuss the ideas behind the law in English with your friends via skype, phone, e mail, or instant message
Each situation is stated, then followed by the necessary elements for each situation and a brief description.
The following are the 36 basic plots which all stories are based on. They are ideal for quick guided role-playing and conversation games. Also good for use with games like interview, 2 truths and a lie, answer question with question, subtitles
1. Supplication
o a Persecutor; a Suppliant; a Power in authority, whose decision is doubtful.
o The Persecutor accuses the Suppliant of wrongdoing, and the Power makes a judgment against the Suppliant.
Vocabulary – Supplication, persecutor,supplicant,authority, accuses, judgement
2. Deliverance
o an Unfortunate; a Threatener; a Rescuer
o The Unfortunate has caused a conflict, and the Threatener is to carry out justice, but the Rescuer saves the Unfortunate.
Vocabulary – deliverance, threatener, rescuer
3. Crime pursued by vengeance
o a Criminal; an Avenger
o The Criminal commits a crime that will not see justice, so the Avenger seeks justice by punishing the Criminal.
Vocabulary – crime, vengeance
4. Vengeance taken for kin upon kin
o Guilty Kinsman; an Avenging Kinsman; remembrance of the Victim, a relative of both
o Two entities, the Guilty and the Avenging Kinsmen, are put into conflict over wrongdoing to the Victim, who is allied to both.
Vocabulary – Kin, remebrance
5. Pursuit
o Punishment; a Fugitive
o The Fugitive flees Punishment for a misunderstood conflict.
Vocabulary – pursuit, punishment, fugitive
6. Disaster
o a Vanquished Power; a Victorious Enemy or a Messenger
o The Power falls from their place after being defeated by the Victorious Enemy or being informed of such a defeat by the Messenger.
Vocabulary – disaster, victorius, messenger, vanquished
7. Falling prey to cruelty/misfortune
o an Unfortunate; a Master or a Misfortune
o The Unfortunate suffers from Misfortune and/or at the hands of the Master.
Vocabulary – fortune, fortunate, misfortune, unfortunate
8. Revolt
o a Tyrant; a Conspirator
o The Tyrant, a cruel power, is plotted against by the Conspirator.
Vocabulary – brevolt, tyant, conspirator
9. Daring enterprise
o a Bold Leader; an Object; an Adversary
o The Bold Leader takes the Object from the Adversary by overpowering the Adversary.
Vocabulary – enterprise, bold, leader, adversary
10. Abduction
o an Abductor; the Abducted; a Guardian
o The Abductor takes the Abducted from the Guardian.
Vocabulary – abduction, abductor, guardian
11. The enigma
o a Problem; an Interrogator; a Seeker
o The Interrogator poses a Problem to the Seeker and gives a Seeker better ability to reach the Seeker's goals.
Vocabulary – enigma, problem, interrogator, seeker
12. Obtaining
o (a Solicitor & an Adversary who is refusing) or (an Arbitrator & Opposing Parties)
o The Solicitor is at odds with the Adversary who refuses to give the Solicitor what they Object in the possession of the Adversary, or an Arbitrator decides who gets the Object desired by Opposing Parties (the Solicitor and the Adversary).
Vocabulary – obtain, obtaining, solicitor, opposing
13. Enmity of kin
o a Malevolent Kinsman; a Hated or a reciprocally-hating Kinsman
o The Malevolent Kinsman and the Hated or a second Malevolent Kinsman conspire together.
Vocabulary – enmity, malevolent, hated
14. Rivalry of kin
o the Preferred Kinsman; the Rejected Kinsman; the Object of Rivalry
o The Object of Rivalry chooses the Preferred Kinsman over the Rejected Kinsman.
Vovabuary – malevolent, hated, rivalry, rejected
15. Murderous adultery
o two Adulterers; a Betrayed Spouse
o Two Adulterers conspire to kill the Betrayed Spouse.
Vocabulary – muderous, adultery, spouse
16. Madness
o a Madman; a Victim
o The Madman goes insane and wrongs the Victim.
Vocabulary - madness
17. Fatal imprudence
o the Imprudent; a Victim or an Object Lost
o The Imprudent, by neglect or ignorance, loses the Object Lost or wrongs the Victim.
Vocabulary – fatal, imprudence
18. Involuntary crimes of love
o a Lover; a Beloved; a Revealer
o The Revealer betrays the trust of either the Lover or the Beloved.
Vocabulary – involuntary, reveal, revealer
19. Slaying of kin unrecognized
o the Slayer; an Unrecognized Victim
o The Slayer kills the Unrecognized Victim.
Vocabulary – slayer, recognized, unreconized
20. Self-sacrifice for an ideal
o a Hero; an Ideal; a Creditor or a Person/Thing sacrificed
o The Hero sacrifices the Person or Thing for their Ideal, which is then taken by the Creditor.
Vocabulary – hero, ideal, creditro
21. Self-sacrifice for kin
o a Hero; a Kinsman; a Creditor or a Person/Thing sacrificed
o The Hero sacrifices a Person or Thing for their Kinsman, which is then taken by the Creditor.
Vocabulary – sacrifice, self sacrifice
22. All sacrificed for passion
o a Lover; an Object of fatal Passion; the Person/Thing sacrificed
o A Lover sacrifices a Person or Thing for the Object of their Passion, which is then lost forever.
Vocabulary - passion
23. Necessity of sacrificing loved ones
o a Hero; a Beloved Victim; the Necessity for the Sacrifice
o The Hero wrongs the Beloved Victim because of the Necessity for their Sacrifice.
Vocabulary – necessity, beloved
24. Rivalry of superior vs. inferior
o a Superior Rival; an Inferior Rival; the Object of Rivalry
o A Superior Rival bests an Inferior Rival and wins the Object of Rivalry.
Vocabulary – Inferior, superior
25. Adultery
o two Adulterers; a Deceived Spouse
o Two Adulterers conspire against the Deceived Spouse.
Vocabulary – adultery, deceived
26. Crimes of love
o a Lover; the Beloved
o A Lover and the Beloved enter a conflict.
Vocabulary - conflict
27. Discovery of the dishonour of a loved one
o a Discoverer; the Guilty One
o The Discoverer discovers the wrongdoing committed by the Guilty One.
Vocabulary – discover, dishonour, wrongdoing
28. Obstacles to love
o two Lovers; an Obstacle
o Two Lovers face an Obstacle together.
Vocabulary - obstacle
29. An enemy loved
o a Lover; the Beloved Enemy; the Hater
o The allied Lover and Hater have diametrically opposed attitudes towards the Beloved Enemy.
Vocabulary – enemy, hater
30. Ambition
o an Ambitious Person; a Thing Coveted; an Adversary
o The Ambitious Person seeks the Thing Coveted and is opposed by the Adversary.
Vocabgulary – ambition, coveted,adversary
31. Conflict with a god
o a Mortal; an Immortal
o The Mortal and the Immortal enter a conflict.
Vocabulary – god, mortal, immortal
32. Mistaken jealousy
o a Jealous One; an Object of whose Possession He is Jealous; a Supposed Accomplice; a Cause or an Author of the Mistake
o 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.
Vocabulary – mistaken, jealousy, possession, accomplise, supposed
33. Erroneous judgement
o a Mistaken One; a Victim of the Mistake; a Cause or Author of the Mistake; the Guilty One
o The Mistaken One falls victim to the Cause of the Author of the Mistake and passes judgment against the Victim of the Mistake when it should be passed against the Guilty One instead.
Vocabulary – erroneous, judgement, cause, author, mistake, instead
34. Remorse
o a Culprit; a Victim or the Sin; an Interrogator
o The Culprit wrongs the Victim or commits the Sin, and is at odds with the Interrogator who seeks to understand the situation.
Vocabulary – remorse, culprit
35. Recovery of a lost one
o a Seeker; the One Found
o The Seeker finds the One Found.
Vocabulary – recover, seeker, lost, found
36. Loss of loved ones
o a Kinsman Slain; a Kinsman Spectator; an Executioner
o The killing of the Kinsman Slain by the Executioner is witnessed by the Kinsman Spectator.
Vocabulary – loss, slain, execute, executioner, executor, slain
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