Burke's Pentad

Imagine that one were to manipulate the terms, for the imputing of motives, in such a case as this: The hero (agent) with the help of his friends (co-agents) outwits the villain (counter-agent) by using a file (agency) that enables him to break his bonds (act) in order to escape (purpose) from the room where he has been confined (scene). In selecting a causistry here, we might locate the motive in the agent, as we were to credit his escape to some trait integral to his personality, such as `love of freedom' (xx).
--Kenneth Burke LASA

Use the following chart to test out any number of different ratios. Make as many different charts as you can, switching people, agency (instrument), switching different purposes for clear protagonists and antagonists, their actions and the instruments they use. Pay close attention to those categories which seem hardest to fill out. Quite often, what is left unsaid is more important than what is said. Summarize what the different ratios point to...this should be the overarching motive for the characters' actions as well as the author's actions and choices.

Pentadic Ratios
Agent



Agency



Act



Scene



Purpose



Agency



Act



Scene



Purpose



Agent



Act



Scene



Purpose



Agent



Agency



Scene



Purpose



Agent



Agency



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Purpose



Agent



Agency



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Scene



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