HELP!!!!! ART THEATRE "RUINED" SCRIPT ANALASIS
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scriptanalysis.ppsxScript Analysis
Intro to Theatre – Play & Final Project
Table of Contents
Slide 3: Plot
Slide 4: Characters
Slide 5: Exposition/Given Circumstances
Slide 6: Atmosphere and Environment
Slide 7: Socioeconomic Status
Slide 8: Cultural Facts/Spirituality and Religion
Slide 9-10: Previous Action/Background Info
Slide 11: Dramatic Action (Cause and Effect)
Slide 12: Theme/Thought (Main)
Slide 13/14:Dialogue/Language
Slide 15-17:Dramatic Structure
2
Plot
Describe the basic elements of the story line of the play. Things to remember:
Be concise
Be complete
Make sure you include a beginning, middle and end
Make sure to know your characters and places
3
Characters
Be detailed in the physical description
Read the text and if no age or description is given you need to interpret
What is their relationship to the main idea of the play and to the other characters?
Why are they are important or necessary?
4
EXPOSITION/GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES: time (specific year, season, time of day etc.)
What is the specific time period or year?
Where is the play set? In a city, home, rural, castle, etc.
Break down the Acts and describe the time and specifics of each
What is the season and how will this affect the progression of the play.
5
EXPOSITION/GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES: Atmosphere and Environment
Describes the structures that exist in the world of the play.
Be thorough in building the surroundings of the play. The more specific you are the more the audience can visualize the play.
6
EXPOSITION/GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES Socioeconomic status of the main character’s
What social or class dynamics exist for the characters in this play?
How do those factors shape the action of the play and the choices the characters make given this information.
What type of pressure will this cause on the plot development?
7
EXPOSITION/GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES
Are their different cultural backgrounds involved in this play’
How will the characters be impacted by this cultural similarities or differences.
How important are these elements in relationship to the theme of the play.
important cultural facts
spirituality/religion
Spirituality and Religion are they a relevant part of this play?
What types of challenges face the characters due to the presence of the factor?
How important is it to the overall movement of the play?
8
EXPOSITION/GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES previous action
What happened before the play that we need to know to understand the play? For example, in Romeo and Juliet we know the families do not get along, this is prior to the beginning of the play.
How important is this information to the plot?
You must read the play thoroughly to be able to develop a clear since of how this information will shape the play.
EXPOSITION/GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES How and when does the playwright give us the background history?
Describe what way you were able to determine the background information . For example did the playwright provide a narrative at the top, or did they use the dialogue to key the audience in on this information.
10
EXPOSITION/GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES
Document the information specifically within the context of the play
Previous Action: Cite and List Information
Discuss the events within the play that give the story progression.
Index the action of the play as it moves.
Actions/Events that make up the story
11
Dramatic Action list actions as a series of cause and effect
Breakdown each of the elements of the Dramatic Action
Make sure to explore how each step in the Dramatic Action will effect the characters and the outcome of the play. For example, a rumor, murder, love affair, lie, etc. How will each of these things effect the progression of the play?
12
Theme/Thought main idea of play
Quote Specific Lines
The purpose of the section is to grasp the overall meaning of the play. Also, you need to use quotations from the play that reinforce your concept. Also look to titles to help with meaning.
13
Dialogue/Language
Words and Sentences: Overall structure of lines and speeches
Examine the words used in the text
Make sure you evaluate how the playwright created the dialogue, and what is the overall affect of this choice.
Are they?
Long?
Short and Choppy?
Written as poetry?
Conversational or monologue?
Imagery
What type of pictures and world is created based on the descriptive use of language.
Dialogue/Language
Images Created by words
How is the dialogue constructed?
Is the language more challenging and intellectual or is it directed toward the masses or “laymen.”
Think about the dialogue in a TV drama like CSI versus Desperate housewives. One the dialogue is very intellectual and technical where as Desperate Housewives is very common place.
Special Qualities
Do the characters require an accent or dialect, if so why?
15
Dramatic Structure
What is the POINT OF ATTACK?
The moment where things in the play have a decisive change
Discuss the major CONFLICT.
What are the major moments in the play that provide the conflict to drive the action of the piece.
Identify the INCITING INCIDENT that sets the conflict in motion. How is it identified?
What is the initial incident that puts the conflict into motion and why?
What are some of the events dramatized as part of the RISING ACTION (minimum of three)?
What are the series of events leading up to the climax of the play?
16
Dramatic Structure
What is the CLIMAX of this story?
What happens after the climax? Is there a segment of FALLING ACTION that contains a RESOLUTION? Describe how this incident is resolved and how this impacts the outcome of the play.
Is there a satisfying wrap-up of the major conflict?
Is there resolution? Why and how did this unfold
Is there a SUBPLOT? How was it related to the main plot and was it resolved?
If there were subplots that were involved, was there a completion to the action?
17
Dramatic Structure
Are there incidents of DISCOVERY and REVERSAL in the play? Describe them in detail.
Are there any other major structural elements present (flashbacks, soliloquies, dream sequence, asides, etc.) ?
18
