English Essentials - Destroying Drama - Finer Details of Dramatic Analysis (Stage 4, Years/Grades 7-8)

This lesson delves into dramatic analysis, focusing on characterization, dramatis personae, and the use of secondary text and stage directions. It explores the impact of staging and set design, the role of iambic pentameter in Shakespearean drama, and the distinction between comedy and tragedy. The lesson aims to equip students with the skills to analyze plays effectively.

What is the purpose of the dramatis personae in a play?

• To list the scenes in the play

• To describe the setting of the play

• To provide a summary of the plot

• To introduce the characters and their relationships

In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', who is considered an antagonist?

• Demetrius

• Egeus

• Lysander

• Hermia

What does the character Puck in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' represent?

• A minor character with no impact

• A purely evil character

• A character with both good and bad traits

• A purely good character

What literary device is used by Juror Number 10 in 'Twelve Angry Men'?

• Generalization

• Personification

• Metaphor

• Simile

How does Ibsen characterize Nora in 'A Doll's House'?

• As a villainous and deceitful character

• As a minor and unimportant character

• As a pessimistic and weak character

• As a resilient and optimistic character

What does the stage direction 'withdraw' in 'Hamlet' suggest about Claudius and Polonius?

• They are preparing for a fight

• They are hiding to listen

• They are leaving the stage

• They are going to sleep

What is the modern proscenium stage known for?

• Being used only in historical plays

• Featuring a single large room

• Having multiple rooms on stage

• Being exclusive to Shakespearean plays

What is the iambic pentameter used for in Shakespeare's plays?

• To create a casual tone

• To mimic natural human speech rhythm

• To confuse the audience

• To simplify the dialogue

Which genre does David Calcutt's retelling of Dracula belong to?

• Comedy

• Tragedy

• Horror

• Romance

What is a bildungsroman?

• A play about horror and suspense

• A play about adolescence and growth

• A play about historical events

• A play about comedy and humor