Madness: Georg Polti Plots or Storylines - The 36 Dramatic or Tragic Situations
Abstract
Human action shrouded by a cloak of fearful mystery—to the ancients the instigations of willful gods, and even today, the possession of an evil spirit, or the curse or spirit of an ancestor, whether supernaturally or through heredity. If you have been intending to start that novel or screenplay but felt short of ideas, here is the Wise Women’s synopsis of plot to give you a few ideas. May the Goddess inspire you. Saviour Shirlie.
Here we have human action shrouded by a cloak of fearful mystery: to the ancients the instigations of willful gods; even today, the possession of an evil spirit, or the curse or spirit of an ancestor, whether supernaturally or through heredity. To awaken and find death or dishonor is for the madman worse than death as terror and doubt arise in his mind—the restoration of reason is to condemn to suffering—and what too of the lookers on? The victims also are baffled and horrified by the rage and unreasonable behaviour of one who they loved or trusted. Mental illness and manias of various types offer powerful dramativ effects which have not yet been all exploited. The madness can be induced by drink, drugs or hypnotism. It can be used to illuminate any aspect of human relationships. The symptoms might be sleepwalking, hallucinating, etc. The madness can be paranoid, psychotic or neurotic. And so on.
Elements
A madman
A victim
Themes
Killing (or injuring) when mad
…a kinsman
…a lover
…someone not hated Hedda Gabler, Ibsen (destruction of a work)
From the conclusion of this war [the American Revolution] we shall be going downhill. It will not then be necessary to resort every moment to the people for support. They will be forgotten, therefore, and their rights disregarded. They will forget themselves but in the sole faculty of making money, and will never think of uniting to effect a due respect for their rights. The shackles, therefore, which shall not be knocked off at the conclusion of this war will remain on us long, will be made heavier and heavier, ’til our rights shall revive or expire in a convulsion.
Support independent publishers and writers snubbed by big retailers. Ask your public library to order these books.
Available through all good bookshops
Permission to copy for personal use is granted. Teachers and small group facilitators may also make copies for their students and group members, providing that attribution is properly given. When quoting, suggested attribution format:
Adding the date accessed also will help future searches when the website no longer exists and has to be accessed from archives… for example…
Dr M D Magee, AskWhy! Publications Website, “Sun Gods as Atoning Saviours” Updated: Monday, May 07, 2001, www.askwhy .co .uk / christianity / 0310sungod .php (accessed 5 August, 2007)
Electronic websites please link to us at http://www.askwhy.co.uk or to major contents pages, if preferred, but we might remove or rename individual pages. Pages may be redisplayed on the web as long as the original source is clear. For commercial permissions apply to AskWhy! Publications.
