Terminology: Text And Performance Analysis Flashcards
Date def- on the page or on the stage
The date the play was written
ONE THE PAGE
Playwright def- on the page or on the stage
The name of the person who wrote the play
ON THE PAGE
Socio- political context def-
On the page or On the stage
What was happening during the time and place- That the play was written
Linked to intention. Intention is echoed in the themes and symbols
ON THE PAGE
Playwrights intention
On the page/ On the stage
ON THE PAGE
The intentions of the playwright- Reasons for writing the play.
- Intention is linked through the socio- political context= seen through the themes
- Intention of a play can: didactic or protest
Style def-
On the page/ On the stage
BOTH
- The way in which the play is presented to an audience, on the page and the stage
- style can be linked to the period in which the play was written
- Style can be linked to an artistic choice on the part of the playwright= page or director= stage
Style e.gs
Realism, physical theatre, Elizabethan Theatre, Poor theatre, Ancient Greek theatre
Genre def-
On the page or on the stage
ON THE PAGE
- what kind of the story=(narrative) the play is telling
- On basic levels it is wether the play is happy or sad
Genre e.gs
Comedy, Tragedy, tragicomedy, Satire
Plot def-
On the page or On the stage
ON THE STAGE
- refers to the events of the play AND the action
Significance of the title def-
- This is the analysis of the title in relation to the themes
- based on the main themes a title is chosen
Influences def-
On the stage/ on the page
ON THE PAGE
- Influences include socio- political events, auto biographical details and artistic influences
- Influences on the playwright can affect the themes and intention
Themes def-
On the page/ on the stage
- The big issue being explored in the play
- Ideas explored by the playwright in the play
- Identified in the events, characters, dialogue and through symbols
- They are connected to the playwrights intention
Themes e.gs
Rebellion, truth betrayal, depression
- Macbeth- themes are power and betrayal + other minor themes
Symbols def-
On the page or on the stage
- They are the Visual or aural=(sound) representations of themes. They can be seen as:
1. Set or props
2. Sound or music
3. Lighting
4. Motifs repeated in the dialogue of the characters - Symbols are the subtext of the themes
Characters def=
On the page or On the stage
On the page
- Vehicle through which the playwright tell the story- Characters are played by actors
Characters:
•Lead character
•Acting in opposition to the lead character
Lead character= Protagonist
• Acting in opposition to the protagonist= Antagonist
Characters:
• Two dimensional
• three dimensional
• Two dimensional= stereotypes or heightened characters
• Three dimensional= Realistic characters with internal motivations, who progress and change through the play
Structure def=
On the page or On the Stage
ON THE PAGE
- Refers to the way the play is built
- Refers to how many acts or scenes are in the play
- Refers to the way in which the action plays out
What is the most common structure of a play?
- Well- made play;
1. Beginning (Exposition)
2. Rising Action
3. Climax (High point of the action)
4. Falling action (Resolution/ Denoument)
5. End (Can be open or closed)
Conflict def=
- Structure is linked to the conflict
• Man vs Man
• Man vs Himself
• Man vs God/Fate/Nature
• Man vs Society
Setting def=
On the page or on the stage
On the page
- Time and place in the events of the play
Stage directions def=
On the page
- Instructions from the playwright
• Set
• Lightning
• sound
• Subtext
• blocking
ARE SHOWN IN ITALICS ON THE PAGE
Given Circumstances def=
On the stage or On the page
On the page
- Details given about a scene
1. WHO
2. WHAT
3. WHEN
4. WHERE
5. WHY
6. HOW
WHO
WHAT
WHEN
WHERE
WHY
HOW
Meaning…
- WHO ( characters)
- WHAT ( what are they doing?)
3.WHERE ( Where is this happening?) - When (When is this happening?)
- WHY ( Why is this happening?)
- HOW ( How is it happening- performance)
Performed space;
On the page Or on the stage
ON THE STAGE
- Refers to the type of stage used for performance
- The type of stage that would suit the performance of a particular play
Set def=
- The set refers to the LARGE items on stage that are generally there to represent the setting
- SET HELPS SETTING
- Set design can be Realist, Abstract or Scenic Theatricalism
Set e.gs;
On the page or On the stage
- Furniture, backdrop
Based on the performance space your set will vary
Props def=
On the stage or On the page
ON THE STAGE
- Props are smaller items used to dress the set
- or used by the characters…
- PERSONAL PROP= can become a tool used to express the character’s subtext or is connected with the character
Costume def=
- Worn by the characters on stage
- SHOWS…..
1. Time of day
2. Status
3. Age of character
4. Profession
5. Season
6. Setting
Lightning and sound def-
On the page or On the stage
On the stage
- Lighting is used to create atmosphere and mood using light intensity, Colour and placement
- Lighting reflects setting
- SOUND= Refers to sound effects and music which can also create atmosphere and mood
Acting style def=
- The acting style used for the performance
- It is generally linked to the acting style suited to the theatrical style
Acting style e.gs
Realism or Physical theatre
Relevance and desired audience response:
It refers to how the playwright would like the audience to respond. SUCH AS:
• A moral lesson
• Be inspired to act or protest
- This is linked to the playwrights intention + socio-politics context
