Abduction

Disciplines > Storytelling > Plots > Polti's Situations > Abduction

Description | Discussion | See also

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Description

Elements

• The Abductor

• The Abducted

• The Guardian

Summary

The Abducted person is taken by the Abductor. The Abducted may be rescued by a Guardian.

Variants

A

1. abduction of an unwilling woman

B

1. abduction of a consenting woman

C

1. recapture of the woman without the slaying of the abductor
2. recapture of the woman with the abductor slain

D

1. the rescue of a captive friend
2. the rescue of a child
3. the rescue of a soul in captivity to error

Discussion

Abduction is the capture and taking of a person, normally against their will but perhaps just in an unexpected situation. Freedom comes when a rescuer performs some kind of 'reverse abduction'.

The thought of abduction creates fear in many of us as we think about children and loved ones being kidnapped (or maybe ourselves being taken). That fear then turns to thoughts of rescue and escape around which the rest of the story may revolve, with the reader paying close and excited attention.

'Abduction' is the 10th of Georges Polti's 36 Dramatic Situations.

See also