Supplication: Analysis

Supplication is pleading, praying or simply asking for assistance in some manner. The three necessary elements for a situation of supplication are: a Persecutor, someone causing problems; a Suppliant, person asking for help; and a Power in authority, person whom suppliant comes to. One point to note is that the Power typically has the assumed presumption that his decision will be doubtful towards the Suppliant to begin with. So a portion of the plot could involve how the Power's opinion is swayed, corrupted, manipulated, and/or entreated to.

Supplication

Definition: make a humble entreaty or prayer.

Elements: Persecutor, Suppliant, and Power(s) in authority with doubtful decision.

There are three different categories of Supplication situations, each with different variations. I will list these briefly here.
(A)
1. Fugitives imploring for help against enemies.
2. Assistance for performance of pious duty which is forbidden.
3. Appeals for refuge in which to die.
(B)
1. Hospitality besought by the shipwrecked.
2. Charity entreated for those cast out, disgraced.
3. Expiation: Seeking of pardon, healing or deliverance.
4. Surrender of corpse or relic.
(C)
1. Supplication of powerful for those dear to suppliant.
2. Supplication to a relative in behalf of another relative.
3. Supplication to a mother's lover, in her behalf.

36 Dramatic Situations

As a personal creative project, each day I will analyze, consider, and contemplate one of the thirty-six dramatic situations prescribed by Georges Polti. Polti's thirty-six dramatic situations have been used to help progress story development in a variety of medias including writing, movies, and video games. I think it would be helpful to deconstruct, analyze, and decipher each situation in detail.

More information on the 36 Dramatic Situations can be found at: Wikipedia.