Studying Plays

by Wallis, Mick; Shepherd, Simon

• ISBN13: 9780340705711
• ISBN10: 034070571X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-10-22
• Publisher: Hodder Education Publishers

Summary

This is an accessible and lively introduction to the essential tools for studying a dramatic text. Looking at the four key areas--dialogue, action, character, and space--the book focuses on the specifically dramatic aspects of plays, rather than on purely literary or theoretical concerns. Looking in detail at Death of a Salesman , A Doll's House , and King Lear among many others, the authors set the dramatic texts in their historical context, paying attention to the significance of particular theater buildings, actors, and audiences. Exercises at the end of each section and a glossary will help anyone wanting to learn more about drama.

Author Biography

Mick Wallis is Reader in Performance Studies at Loughborough University, UK Simon Shepherd is Director of Programmes at The Central School of Speech and Drama in London, UK

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	viii
Getting started	1	(11)
Reading the play	1	(7)
Stage directions	8	(4)
Characters and persons	12	(25)
Expectations about character	12	(1)
Three aspects of dramatic character	13	(2)
Mapping characters	15	(2)
Developing the aspects of dramatic character	17	(6)
Character articulation	23	(10)
Further aspects of dramatic character	33	(2)
Character at work	35	(2)
Dialogue	37	(32)
The workings of dialogue	37	(10)
The workings of conversation	47	(9)
Speech acts	56	(8)
The stylistics of theatrical prose and verse	64	(5)
Plot, action and the actor's body	69	(36)
Plot and action	69	(30)
The actor's body	99	(6)
Spaces	105	(40)
Space and A Doll's House	105	(8)
A systematic approach to space	113	(28)
Models and maps of theatrical space	141	(4)
Culture and interpretation	145	(26)
Writers	146	(2)
Location	148	(6)
Performers	154	(7)
Audiences	161	(6)
Interpretation	167	(4)
Glossary	171	(4)
Bibliography	175	(7)
Index	182