What: Read a play you haven’t read before. Write a paper about said play. Be ready to discuss the play in front of your classmates. You can find the plays on the bookshelf in my room, also you can snag a play from the bibliotek. Clear the play with me. Feel free to ask anyone but English teachers for suggestions - students, teachers, parental units. Make sure you do your research in order to pick said play.

When: Due October 12th

How: Basically, you will do a breakdown of the play not dissimilar to the breakdown of the short story.  We will use Mr. Kohler’s (by way of Aristotle) discussion of drama to drive your analysis. Each element will get its own heading and will be at least a paragraph. Around two to three pages.

So, it will look something like this:

Title, Author, Date of First Production

Dramatic Action - The statement that serves as the controlling idea of your analysis.

Plot - This includes the inciting incident, crisis, and climax. This should not be more than four-five sententences

Character  - Purpose, root conflict, and the like. Please do not just list.

Language - What the characters say. How they say it.

Spectacle  - Harder when we aren’t seeing the play, but what the audience sees. The sets, props, costumes, and lights play a huge role here. Make sure to read the stage directions to get a more full understanding. If you feel like you don’t have much to work with on this section, discuss how you would implement spectacle into the play if you were heading the production.

Music - Again, tougher when not seeing it, but not impossible. As above, if you feel that you would add something to a production in terms of music or sound effects, put that here.

Personal Response - I would like you to take the time to discuss your own reaction to the play. Did it move you? Were you puzzled? Do you wish you could see it? Those types of questions. These should be detailed and specific, please avoid the generic, “I liked it, it was cool.”


P.S.  Remember to use evidence from the text.