意大利人卡洛•戈齐（1720-1806）发现，许多故事都具有相似的情境，歌德举了一些例子，19世纪法国作家乔治•波尔蒂进一步整理，将其归纳为36种情境。也许其中的有些主题和案例与当今故事有所背离，但它们仍然能引起人们极大的兴趣，并且提供了适用范围很广的有趣的例子，真实地表达了人类的困境。
下面我们详细论述这36种戏剧情境。
情境一：请求
具体描述
要素
▶ 迫害者
▶ 请求者
▶ 决策的当权者
概要
因为受到迫害者的搜捕、伤害或者威胁，请求者向当权者寻求帮助。
变体
A
1 .逃犯寻求强大势力的庇护，以对抗敌人
2 .请求援助，以履行不被公众认可而又不得不履行的责任和义务
3 .为死囚申诉
B
1 .遇难船只寻求款待
2.政客羞辱自己的人民，被人民抛弃，反寻求人民的谅解和爱戴
3 .赎罪，求得赦免、治愈或解脱
4 .以尸体或遗物乞降
C
1 .为请求者的珍爱之物向权贵请求某事
2 .代表另一亲属向一名亲属请求某事
3 .代表母亲向她的爱人请求某事
进一步阐述
上述的“请求”，意即以极其谦卑的态度，要求别人拥有而你没有的东西。事实上，不管是通过权力压迫或者道德制衡，你都不可能轻而易举地达到目的，而那个可以帮助你的人，成了唯一的救命稻草。
迫害者处于暗中，所作所为并不明晰，他们可能在搜捕请求者，也可能在伤害请求者。这使请求者非常绝望，但也使读者或观众对此更加同情，也使我们对“乞求”这种行为不那么厌恶。
这也为故事提供了另一种思路，那就是，乞求者已经放低姿态，如果仍遭到拒绝，可能会激起他极强的报复心。
这种情况与孩子向父母要求某事一样，从而牵动心弦。不得不乞讨，本身就是件令人羞愧的事，因此我们会为主角感到难过。
附原文：
Georges Polti was a 19th century French writer described 36 situations that may be found in many stories, based on the list identified by Goethe who said it was originated by Italian Carlo Gozzi (1720-1806). Perhaps some of the themes and examples do betray a bias towards the stories of the day, yet they are still very useful stimuli and provide interesting examples of enduring and real human dilemmas.
Here are his 36 situation, including a discussion on each one:
1. Supplication
Description
Elements
• Persecutor
• Supplicant
• Power in Authority whose decision is doubtful
Summary
The Supplicant is chased, harmed or otherwise threatened by the Persecutor and begs for help from the Power in Authority.
Variants
A
1. fugitives imploring the powerful for help against their enemies
2. assistance implored for the performance of a pious duty which has been forbidden
3. appeals for a refuge in which to die
B
1. hospitality besought by the shipwrecked
2. charity entreated by those cast off by their own people, whom they have disgraced
3. expiation, the seeking of pardon, healing or deliverance
4. the surrender of a corpse, or of a relic, solicited
C
1. supplication of the powerful for those dear to the suppliant
2. supplication to a relative in behalf of another relative
3. supplication to a mother's lover, in her behalf
Discussion
'Supplication' is begging, humbly asking for something that someone else has and you do not have. There fact that you cannot just take it, whether through an imbalance of power or moral codes means the throwing yourself on the charity of the person who can help is the only option.
The position of the shady Persecutor is not very clear, who may be chasing or having harmed the Supplicant. This does add desperation, however, to the Supplicant's position, adding to the sympathy that we will offer (and perhaps removing any disgust at begging).
It can also offer another story strand that beggars, having humbled themselves to the lowest position can become very vengeful if they are rejected.
This situation echoes the child begging its parent for something and thus tugs at very early strings. The situation of having to beg is, in itself, very humbling and we thus may feel sorry for the protagonist.
