1

Supplication

Persecutor, Suppliant, a Power in Authority

Usually, an unfortunate person appeals to an authority figure for help. The authority figure is the protagonist. Ex: The Rock; The Untouchables; Three Amigos.

2

Deliverance

Unfortunates, Threatener, Rescuer

Here the rescuer helps the unfortunate person without being asked. Ex: The Terminator; Speed.

3

Revenge

Avenger, Criminal

This is your basic mystery or detective story. The protagonist is out to find the truth. Ex: Lethal Weapon; Die Hard; James Bond.

4

Vengeance by Family upon Family

Avenging Kinsman, Guilty Kinsman, Relative

Ex: The Lion King.

5

Pursuit

Fugitive from Punishment, Pursuer

The protagonist is the fugitive, often wrongfully accused. Ex: Les Miserables; The Fugitive.

6

Disaster

• a vanquished power; a victorious enemy or a messenger

Ex: Schindler’s List; The Color Purple. 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)

7

Falling prey to cruelty/misfortune

• an unfortunate; a master or a misfortune

The unfortunate suffers from misfortune and/or at the hands of the master. Example: Job Armageddon; Sydney White.

8

Revolt

Tyrant, Conspirator(s)

The tyrant, a cruel power, is plotted against by the conspirator. Example: Julius Caesar Ex: Swing Kids; The Matrix.

9

Daring Enterprise

Bold Leader, Goal, Adversary

• The bold leader takes the object from the adversary by overpowering the adversary. Example: Queste del Saint Graal, The Lord of the Rings

10

Abduction

Abductor, Abducted, Guardian

• The abductor takes the abducted from the guardian. Example: Helen of Troy

11

Enigma

Interrogator, Seeker, Problem

• 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, seven, national treasure

12

Obtaining

Two or more Opposing Parties, Object, maybe an Arbitrator

A solicitor and an adversary who is refusing, or an arbitrator and opposing parties. At what cost and by what means will the protagonist act in trying to obtain his goal? Ex: Green Eggs and Ham; Outbreak.

13

Familial Hatred

Two Family Members who hate each other

A malevolent kinsman, a hated or a reciprocally hating kinsman. The closer the relationship, the greater the conflict that divides them, the greater the resulting hate. Example: Kramer vs. Kramer; Corky Romano.

14

Familial Rivalry

Preferred Kinsman, Rejected Kinsman, Object

The preferred kinsman, the rejected kinsman, the object of their rivalry. Ex: Legends of the Fall; A League of Their Own.

15

Murderous Adultery

Two Adulterers, the Betrayed

Two adulterers, a betrayed spouse. Ex: Dangerous Liaisons; Diabolique.

16

Madness

Madman, Victim

A madman, a victim. Ex: The Shining; Psycho.

17

Fatal Imprudence

Imprudent person, Victim or lost object

The imprudent or rash. The protagonist causes his own misfortune (or the misfortune of those he cares about) through his rash behavior, often to seek someone or something lost, or to settle his curiosity about something. Ex: Meet the Parents; Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

18

Involuntary Crimes of Love

Lover, Beloved, Revealer

The protagonist may fall in love with a relative, a relative’s spouse, a teacher/student, his employer, someone who is planning to rip him off but he doesn’t know it, or maybe just an adulterous relationship. He may walk into the relationship willingly, knowing that it is wrong, or he may not know. Sometimes the reader may know the truth when the hero doesn’t.

19

Kinsman Kills Unrecognised Kinsman

Killer, Unrecognised Victim, Revealer

The plot focuses on the protagonist planning to kill his kinsman without knowing his enemy is related to him.

20

Self Sacrifice for an Ideal

Hero, Ideal, Person or Thing Sacrificed

Here the protagonist gives up everything for his ideal. Ex: The Messenger.

21

Self Sacrifice for Kindred

Hero, Kinsman, Person or Thing Sacrificed

Here the protagonist gives up everything for a kinsman. Ex: Cyrano de Bergerac; The Passion of the Christ.

22

All Sacrificed for Passion

Lover, Object of Passion, Person or Thing Sacrificed

The protagonist sacrifices everything for his passion. This could be an addiction, a lover, or money. Ex: Leaving Las Vegas.

23

Sacrifice of Loved Ones

Hero, Beloved Victim, Need for Sacrifice

The protagonist is forced by necessity to sacrifice a loved one.

24

Rivalry Between Superior and Inferior

Superior, Inferior, Object

Ex: Rocky; Karate Kid.

25

Adultery

Deceived Spouse, Two Adulterers

Ex: Bridges of Madison County.
* Two Adulterers conspire against the Deceived Spouse.

26

Crimes of Love

Lover, Beloved, theme of Dissolution

1. • A Lover and the Beloved break a taboo by initiating a romantic relationship Example: Sigmund and his sister in The Valkyrie

27

Discovery of Dishonor of a Loved One

Discoverer, Guilty One

The protagonist is caught in a sin toward their loved one or they catch their loved one in a dishonorable act. Shame is key. Ex: The novel Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.

28

Obstacles to Love

Two Lovers, Obstacle

Some great obstacle stands in the way of two lovers being together. Ex: Kate & Leopold; Ever After.

29

An Enemy Loved

Beloved Enemy, Lover, Hater

The protagonist falls in love with an enemy. Ex: Twilight; Romeo and Juliet.

30

Ambition

An Ambitious Person, Coveted Thing, Adversary

The Ambitious Person seeks the Thing Coveted and is opposed by the Adversar Ex: Jerry McGuire; That Thing You Do.

31

Conflict with a God

Mortal, Immortal

Hercules; Rosemary’s Baby, Bruce Almighty.

32

Mistaken Jealousy

Jealous One, Object of Jealousy, Supposed Accomplice, Author of 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.

33

Faulty Judgment

Mistaken One, Victim of Mistake, Author of Mistake, Guilty Person

• 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.

34

Remorse

Culprit, Victim, 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; No Exit

35

Recovery of a Lost One

Seeker, One Found

• The Seeker finds the One Found. Example: A Very Long Engagement, Finding Nemo

36

Loss of Loved Ones

Kinsman Slain, Kinsman Witness, Executioner

• The killing of the Kinsman Slain by the Executioner is witnessed by the Kinsman. Example: Braveheart, Gladiator