Les trente-six situations dramatiques

The book investigates the famous claim that all drama can be reduced to thirty‑six basic situations, a theory first proposed by the Italian playwright Gozzi and later examined by Schiller and Goethe. Through lively examples ranging from Turandot’s riddles to Faust’s visions, the author shows how each archetype resurfaces across centuries of European theatre.

The work blends scholarly analysis with illustrative sketches of gestures, revealing how physical action amplifies the underlying conflict of each situation. A cascade of references to classic tragedies, romantic poetry, and folk legends enriches the discussion, while anecdotes about figures like Nerval and Hoffmann highlight the enduring fascination with counting dramatic possibilities.

Listeners gain a practical framework for spotting these core motifs in any story, whether on a nineteenth‑century stage or in contemporary film. Armed with this toolbox, you’ll recognize familiar patterns of love, revenge, sacrifice and more, enriching both appreciation and creative practice.