试译《乔治·波尔蒂的36种戏剧性情境》之十一：谜团

情境十一：谜团

具体描述

要素

询问者

探索者

问题

概要

询问者提出一个问题，探索者必须解决这个问题。

变体

A

1. 寻找经历病痛、濒临死亡的人

B

1. 在经历病痛、濒临死亡的情况下解开谜团

2. 在经历病痛、濒临死亡的情况下解开谜团，其中的问题是令人梦寐以求的女人。

C

1. 提供悬赏，以找出某人的名字

2. 提供悬赏，以确认性别

3. 做某些测试，以检测精神状态

进一步阐述

谜团和问题会使读者感同身受，因为读者也会试图理解和解决谜团。

我们解决问题的根本动机，是追求完美，以及问题解决之后的奖励。解开谜团意味着我们聪明机智，从而提高面对生活中其他挑战的能力。

而跟多的悬赏满足了人们的基本需求和欲望。

The Enigma

Description

Elements

Interrogator

Seeker

A Problem

Summary

The Interrogator poses a Problem which the Seeker must solve.

Variants

A

1. Search for person who must be found on pain of death

B

1. A riddle to be solved on pain of death

2. A riddle to be solved on pain of death in which the poser is the coveted woman

C

1. Temptations offered with the object of discovering his name

2. Temptations offered with the object of ascertaining the sex

3. Tests for the purposes of ascertaining the mental condition

Discussion

Puzzles and problems draw the reader into the situation as they (the reader) also seeks to understand and resolve the puzzle.

A basis of the motivation we feel to resolve puzzles is the need for completion and the consequent reward of closure. Resolving enigmas makes us feel clever and intellectual and hence more able to face life's other challenges.

More general temptations play to basic needs and desires.