INTRODUCTION
In this article, you will be introduced to how to analyze plays and appreciate their effectiveness as dramatic texts. The common approaches to the analysis of literary texts are content and form. Content deals with the theme and subject matter. Form comprises such stylistic features as plot, characterization, setting, language and other dramatic devices used in the play.
Critical Analysis
Critical analysis in drama is the evaluation of a written play. In the evaluation, you are expected to read the play very well and highlight how effectively or otherwise the playwright has utilized the elements and devices of drama in the composition of his play. The dramatic techniques used are also discussed. As you analyze a play, you are expected to identify the theme, how appropriate the characters are, if they are consistent and their actions are properly motivated. The language is another area that needs attention as you determine if there is consistency. The relationship between the message of the play and the method used to relay the message is also examined. You can take the following steps for an effective textual analysis:
- Read it again and again to fill in the gaps and ensure that you have obtained the required information.
- Read the play for the first time and enjoy the story.
- Read the play again with your notebook and dictionary by your side. Use the dictionary to find out the meaning of the words you are not familiar with and form notes on the plot, theme,characterization and other relevant information.
- Rewrite your note properly, and revise it as many times aspossible.
Content/Theme
In the analysis of a play, the first issue that comes to mind is the theme. Theme is the main idea in a play that permeates the entire play. How do you identify the theme of a play? Themes are identified through the dialogue, actions and manifestations in the actions of the major characters as they interact with other characters in the play. The interpersonal relationships of the characters help to highlight and advance that particular idea. Themes in drama include corruption, love, revenge, and many others. The theme is the message which the playwright wants to send across to his audience and a play could have more than one theme.
The playwright could draw his germinal idea from an incident or event in his contemporary society. It could also be drawn from history, legend, myth or folklore but the important factor is that there is a message he sends to the audience. Most playwrights try to make their societies better through the exploration of the negative impacts of these ideas in the societies. A playwright is normally influenced by his background and this is reflected in his plays. In Nigeria many contemporary playwrights explore the themes like military dictatorship, insecurity unemployment, bad leadership, bribery and corruption. You will agree with me that these and more are the vices that plague the contemporary Nigerian society.
The playwright is said to be the conscience of his society, a teacher and an entertainer. He therefore strives to educate, inform and entertain his audience. This explains why he presents his theme through an interesting story and chooses the most appropriate dramatic form. For example, Bernard Shaw decides to dramatize the themes of love and war through comedy, while Shakespeare presents his theme of revenge through tragedy.
The theme of the story is what gives it significance because without a recognizable and definable theme, a story will be trite and pointless. A clearly focused theme is the story’s “motivating force”. In Oedipus Rex for instance, the theme is man’s quest for his identity. The sub-theme is man’s helplessness in the hands of fate or the gods. If we take the main theme, we will see that Oedipus’ search for his true parents leads him to kill his father and marry his mother, while his search for the cause of the plague in his kingdom and the murderer of King Laius leads to his search for his own identity. The search for his own identity leads to his doom. Everyman explores the summons of death for mankind and man’s readiness to meet his creator. In explicating this theme, the play dramatizes the struggle between virtue and vice for supremacy in a man’s life. The question of man’s ultimate fate is also explored.
It concludes with the fact that only man’s good deed is important for his salvation. Consciously or unconsciously, every playwright has his theme in mind in choosing the style to adopt. The characters, the setting, the language, the plot, are chosen in such a way that should advance the major theme of the story. However, you must bear in mind the fact that a story may have one or more themes. It is also possible that each reader may discover a different theme or a multiplicity of themes in the same play.
You should not worry about this. Literature is open to different interpretations and as literary students, you should be able to identify your position and substantiate it with facts from the play. You can see that in the example of Oedipus above, I used the first theme of man’s search for his identify. If I decide to use the theme of man’s helplessness as the major theme, I will state how Oedipus was born and there was a prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother.
His parents believe that they can avert the curse by killing him. Unfortunately the servant who was asked to kill him gives him to a shepherd who in turn hands him over to his childless master. Oedipus is brought up in Corinth but unfortunately, he tries to run away from the same curse (fate) when he realizes that he is doomed to kill his father and marry his mother. In running away from fate, he fulfills that prophecy.
The theme of a play could be given in one word but ideally it is presented in sentence or statement. A play could be complex and it might be difficult to give the theme or the central idea in one word.
However, you should realize that whether it is in one word or in one sentence, you must explain it further based on the play. You should also be in a position to identify other themes, if the play has other themes.
Usually the theme is identified after you must have read the entire play. Finally, theme is the controlling idea in a play which the reader extracts consciously as he reads the text. It could be literal or symbolic. It is that idea or message which the playwright wants to share with or convey to his audience. In most cases, the theme emerges after the exploration of the entire play. Some plays have more than one theme. The major one which stands out is the main theme while the others are called the sub-themes.
Subject Matter
The subject matter is the topic of discussion in the play. It is easier to get the subject matter from the title of the play. Theme is the central idea of the play while the subject matter is the object of discussion from which the theme is extracted. It is means therefore that the theme is subsumed in the subject matter. In The Lion and the Jewel, for instance, the subject matter is the fame of Sidi (the Jewel) a young and beautiful girl and her seduction by the Bale (the Lion) who is sixty two years old.
In The Marriage of Anansewa, the theme is love but the subject matter is the marriage of Anansewa. From the two examples, we conclude that the subject matter is indeed the object of discussion which other events and incidents in a text or work help to highlight.
This is the statement the play makes about the social world. In most cases, plays treat common human problems and make statements that have universal validity or relevance for all ages. Each playwright treats any of these human problems from his own perspective to give it a touch of originality and uniqueness. This is the style.
Characterization
Characters are the persons in a dramatic work. The playwright endows them with moral and dispositional qualities which are expressed in their words and actions. The reasons for the character’s action, his speech, his temperament constitute his motivation. In textual analysis, one could evaluate the character though the stage direction where some playwrights have some comments on the character’s disposition, his age, his physical attributes, his mode of dressing and other information that could be found there.
The next thing is to evaluate his interactions with other characters through which you discover whether he is a flat or round character. A flat character remains unchanged in his outlook and dispositions from the beginning to the end but a round character could undergo a gradual or radical change which is brought about by events in the play. It is difficult to predict the actions of a round character because he is usually very close to real human beings.
Anything you write about a character must be contained in the text. You should therefore not infer, guess or suggest a characteristic moral disposition or physical attribute that cannot be identified in the text. For instance, you can rightly say that Baroka in The Lion and the Jewel is a crafty rogue who excels in self-indulgence. One of the characters said that about him and his action too in the scene where his current wife is pulling the hairs in his armpit and also in his seduction of Sidi. We have analysed the plays that are recommended for this course in subsequent units and we discussed some of the characters.
Pharmacie en ligne française pour acheter du médicaments sans tracas Cevallos Seraing Koop medicijnen online voor gemakkelijke toegang tot
medicatie
лд розыгрыш 2022 казахстан регистрация, акции сигарет 2022 казахстан ретро автомобили купить, ретро-автомобили в казахстане арыстанды қарабас желі
шешу жолдары, арыстанды карабас жели тіл
білімі саласының терминдері, синтаксис терминдері
әлеуметтік ұйымдар мен қауымдастықтар, коммерциялық
ұйымдар мысал жаңбыр жауғанда тілек, жаңбыр алланың нұры ис параграф это, параграф школа әже туралы
тақпақ 8 наурыз, 8 наурызға тақпақтар аналарға
эссе жазу әдістемесі, эссе неше сөзден тұрады базар шувар львів ціни путин приехал в астану,
путин приехал в казахстан 8 элемент цена в казахстане, 8 элемент фаберлик цена
психологиялық кеңес беру бағыттары, психологиялық кеңес беру әдістері смешные факты про воду,
интересные факты о животных с картинками исторические названия команд,
біздің девиз мақсат мәнді сөйлем мысалдар, шарт мәнді сөйлем
волгоград кировский район подработка уборщицей журнал учета работы
кружка в доме культуры образец скачать уфа подработка с ежедневной оплатой для мужчин грузчиком работа вайлдберриз удаленно загружать карточки реальные отзывы
работа учителем удаленно отзывы работа
на дому в балашихе вакансии для женщин удаленная подработка с
ежедневной оплатой без опыта подработка упаковщица
на производство академия заработка в интернете 50 личный кабинет
войти в личный
Medikamente ohne Rezept in Antwerpen bestellen Galpharm De Meern médicaments : posologie recommandée pour différentes
conditions
сөз жұмбақ жауабымен программа алма тв на завтра, программа 7 канал на сегодня ватсап алма тв, алма тв контакты фарадейдің бірінші заңы,
электролиз заңын кім ашты
квартиры в каскелене без посредников купить, алтын ауыл каскелен купить квартиру мұнайдың жануарларға зияны,
мұнайдың зияны шешу жолдары баллы на высшую категорию учителя, пробное нкт для
учителей подарочный сертификат
астана, подарки для женщин астана
использования солнца для дома приснились поезда проезжают лучшие книги про попаданцев в магические миры в сериях слушать онлайн бесплатно
приснилось что бывший парень изменяет со мной к
чему снится гантеля
Touche. Great arguments. Keep up the good work.
виртуальная колоноскопия в усть-каменогорске, проктолог в усть-каменогорске отзывы бүртүрлі қыз екен скачать ремикс,
найзағай ремикс скачать қаракесек
ғасырлар мен жылдар, ғасырлар кестесі санмен екі сөздің қосарлануы, екі сөздің қосарлануынан жасалған қос сөздер мысал
к чему снится увидеть деньги бумажные крупные таро три карты на чувства человека гороскоп на неделю для
рака женщины работа
226 июня знак зодиака слизь во рту сонник
қазақ тіліне жақын тіл, қазақ тілі мемлекеттік тіл кыз узату анасынын тилеги, ұзатылатын
қызға өсиет oxygen metal or nonmetal, chlorine metal or
nonmetal скачать песни ислам итляшев 2021,
скачать песни ислам итляшев 2023
джихад – это простыми словами, джихад – это хорошо или плохо музыка для сна успокаивающие звуки,
звуки для сна скачать погода коктума, яндекс погода коктума банк центркредит обеденный
перерыв, банк центркредит алматы режим работы в субботу
бауыржан исламхан в каком клубе играет, сборная казахстана по футболу ақша
табу жолдары, ақша табу жолдары 2023 tun sadraddin перевод, садраддин
– ант скачать ақтөбе таулары, мұғалжар тауы
ашаршылық проблемасы жоғары болу себебі, ашаршылық жылдары қазақстан свет как
абиотический фактор среды, абиотические факторы среды менеджер после 9 класса казахстан, профессия туризм после
9 класса айқын төлепберген армандастар, армандастар құрдастар текст
африка қандай жарты шарда орналасқан,
африка материгінің ауданы хидаят берсін,
баракаллаху фикум как пишется казахстанский бренд часов, часы абырой цена сарыарқа тауы географиялық орны,
сарыарқа өзендерінің негізгі қорегі
ұлы жібек жолын қайта жаңғырту, ұлы жібек жолы мәдениеті аудармадағы трансформация, лексикалық аударма абай
қара сөздерінің тәрбиелік мәні шығарма, абайдың қара сөздерінің тәрбиелік
мәні презентация мұхтар шаханов махаббат
деген, мұхтар шаханов ғашықтық ғаламаты
Awesome blog! Do you have any tips and hints for aspiring writers?
I’m hoping to start my own blog soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you advise starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m completely confused ..
Any tips? Many thanks!
тірі ағзалардың арасындағы қарым қатынас 4 сынып, экожүйедегі қарым қатынас түрлері суйем дедин суйе
алмадын, бауыржан оскенбеков динара
скачать проверка qr-кода онлайн, ашык qr-код скачать белаз 1000 тонн
цена, купить белаз 45 тонн
стриптиз бар набережные челны секс в 35 у мужчин что делать 4 месяца
не хочет секса порно групповуха 1
девушка и мужики
Hello colleagues, how is the whole thing, and what you desire to say regarding this piece of writing, in my view its in fact awesome in favor of me.
Normally I do not read article on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to
try and do so! Your writing style has been surprised me.
Thank you, very nice article.
Fantastic website. Lots of helpful info here.
I am sending it to some buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious.
And obviously, thanks on your effort!
Unquestionably consider that that you said.
Your favorite reason seemed to be at the net the easiest thing to take into accout of.
I say to you, I certainly get annoyed at the same time as other people think about worries that they just don’t realize about.
You managed to hit the nail upon the highest and also defined out the entire thing without having side effect , other people could
take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thank you
You should be a part of a contest for one of the finest blogs on the internet.
I am going to highly recommend this site!
Link exchange is nothing else however it is just placing the other person’s webpage link on your page at proper place and other person will also do same in favor of you.
Have you ever considered about adding a little bit more than just your
articles? I mean, what you say is valuable and everything.
However imagine if you added some great images or videos to
give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with pics and
clips, this blog could definitely be one of the best in its niche.
Awesome blog!
I have to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in penning
this site. I’m hoping to view the same high-grade blog posts by you later
on as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my very own website now 😉
Excellent article! We will be linking to this particularly great article on our site.
Keep up the good writing.
Wonderful beat ! I wish to apprentice at the same time as you amend your website, how
could i subscribe for a weblog web site? The account helped
me a appropriate deal. I were a little bit familiar of this your broadcast offered vivid clear idea
always i used to read smaller posts which as well clear their motive, and that is also happening with this paragraph which I am
reading at this place.
What’s up everybody, here every person is sharing these knowledge, so
it’s good to read this web site, and I used to go to see this webpage everyday.
Hi i am kavin, its my first time to commenting anyplace, when i read this post i
thought i could also create comment due to this sensible article.
Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an really long comment but
after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr…
well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyways, just wanted
to say excellent blog!
Hello, I enjoy reading through your post. I wanted to write a
little comment to support you.
You can also customize monitoring for certain apps, and it will immediately start capturing phone screen snapshots regularly.
Se você está pensando em usar um aplicativo espião de celular, então você fez a escolha certa.
Your style is very unique in comparison to other folks I have read stuff from.
Many thanks for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this
web site.
My partner and I stumbled over here coming from a different web page and thought I should check things out.
I like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward to looking over your
web page yet again.
Keep on writing, great job!
Hey there, You have done an excellent job. I’ll definitely digg it and
personally recommend to my friends. I am sure they’ll be benefited from this website.
Please let me know if you’re looking for a article writer for your blog.
You have some really good posts and I think I would be a good asset.
If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d love to write some articles for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine.
Please blast me an e-mail if interested. Thank you!
What’s up all, here every person is sharing these kinds of familiarity, thus it’s fastidious to read this blog, and I used to pay a quick visit this website
every day.
Just desire to say your article is as surprising.
The clearness in your post is simply spectacular and i could
assume you are an expert on this subject. Well with your permission let
me to grab your RSS feed to keep updated with forthcoming post.
Thanks a million and please keep up the enjoyable work.
Simply desire to say your article is as surprising.
The clarity for your put up is simply nice and that i could assume you’re a professional on this subject.
Well along with your permission allow me to clutch your RSS
feed to keep up to date with drawing close post. Thanks one
million and please carry on the enjoyable work.
Fine way of telling, and pleasant paragraph to take data regarding my presentation subject, which i
am going to deliver in academy.
Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all of us you actually know what
you are speaking about! Bookmarked. Please additionally seek advice from my website =).
We can have a link change arrangement between us
Encouraging each other’s individual passions and pursuits adds depth to the relationship.
whoah this blog is excellent i love reading your articles.
Stay up the good work! You already know, many individuals are hunting
around for this info, you could aid them greatly.
Amazing blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
A theme like yours with a few simple adjustements would really
make my blog jump out. Please let me know where you got your theme.
Kudos
Have you ever considered creating an e-book or guest authoring on other blogs?
I have a blog based on the same ideas you discuss and would love to have
you share some stories/information. I know my readers would
value your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.
Hi! This post could not be written any better! Reading this
post reminds me of my previous room mate!
He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this write-up to him.
Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
I’m extremely impressed together with your writing skills as well as with the layout in your weblog.
Is this a paid theme or did you modify it your self? Either way stay up the nice high quality writing,
it’s uncommon to look a great weblog like this one today..
Hi friends, how is all, and what you desire to say
regarding this paragraph, in my view its in fact remarkable in support of me.
Thanks for your marvelous posting! I truly enjoyed reading it, you’re a great
author.I will remember to bookmark your blog and will come back down the road.
I want to encourage continue your great posts, have a nice morning!
There’s definately a great deal to learn about this issue.
I really like all of the points you’ve made.
This is a topic that is close to my heart… Take care! Where are your contact details though?
I like what you guys tend to be up too. Such clever work and coverage!
Keep up the wonderful works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to
my own blogroll.
Hurrah! In the end I got a weblog from where I be
able to actually obtain helpful information concerning my study and knowledge.
daily cialis vs regular cialis tadalafilise.cyou/#
lilly icos cialis 20mg tadalafilise.cyou/#
cialis 200mg review tadalafilise.cyou/#
I’m impressed, I must say. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s both equally educative and interesting, and without a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is something too few people are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy that I came across this in my search for something relating to this.
I have been surfing online greater than 3 hours nowadays, but
I by no means found any interesting article like yours.
It’s beautiful worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all webmasters and
bloggers made excellent content material as you did, the
net might be a lot more useful than ever before.
Every weekend i used to visit this site, as i wish for enjoyment, since this this site conations actually
fastidious funny information too.
It is perfect time to make a few plans for the future and it is time to be happy.
I’ve learn this submit and if I may just I wish to recommend
you few attention-grabbing things or advice. Maybe you can write
subsequent articles referring to this article. I want to learn more things about
it!
thank you
LAVITA RICCA INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT*
♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️
♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️
*NO MORE EXCUSES*
1. I don’t have money
2. I can’t talk to people
3. I don’t do stuff like this
4. I’m too Busy
Your excuses may be legit but they won’t improve your Life.
• *Lavita Ricca Investment is Fully Registered with with FGN. with RC NO 1582489( For those Who Think Lavita Ricca is Not Registered)* *Contact Administrator Management Mrs. Elizabeth Tina On *(09036369810)
*Lavita Ricca Investment is a platform network that deal with investing of money just within 45 minutes you will get back your money double*
?phone=+2349036369810
*Lavita Ricca PACKAGE’S*
*N20,000====N40,000*
*N40,000====N80,000*
*N50,000====N100,000*
*N100,000====N200,000*
*N200,000 ====N400,000*
*N400,000====N800,000*
*======== = = ========*
*I know you are skeptical about this because of the negative experience a lot of issues as regards scamming in the MMM. I assure you 101% that you won’t lose your money this is because I know the risk of this profit oriented business and I know how to avoid them using my trading skills and signals to make only wins and no losses.*
*Are u a worker?*
 *Are u a student looking for your school fees? Are u a woman looking for money to pay your children school fees?*
 *Are u jobless and u need where u can make source of income?*..
 *Lavita Ricca Investment is here for you! With a little amount u can earn and make more more source of income without any problems*
 *Lavita Ricca Investment is a platform network that deal with investing of money just within 45mins you will get back your money double*
*Thank you for your time you can click on the link below to get started, please only serious minded people are expected to message the administrator.( 09036369810 )
*LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT PROGRAM*
♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️
♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️
*NO MORE EXCUSES*
1. I don’t have money
2. I can’t talk to people
3. I don’t do stuff like this
4. I’m too Busy
Your excuses may be legit but they won’t improve your Life.
• *LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT PROGRAM is Fully Registered with CAC. WHICH IS COOPERATE AFFAIR COMMISSION( For those Who Think LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT is Not Registered)*
*LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT PROGRAM is a platform network that deal with investing of money just within 45mins you will get back your money double*
CONTACT:- +2349036369810
*LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT PROGRAM PACKAGE’S*
*N20,000====N40,000*
*N30, 000====N60,000*
*N50,000====N100,000*
*N100,000====N200,000*
*N200,000 ====N400,000*
*N400,000====N800,000*
*==============*
*I know you are skeptical about this because of the negative experience a lot of issues as regards scamming in the global world. I assure you 101% that you won’t lose your money this is because I know the risk of this profit oriented business and I know how to avoid them using my trading skills and signals to make only wins and no losses.*
*Are u a worker?*
♊ *Are u a student looking for your school fees? Are u a woman looking for money to pay your children school fees?*
♊ *Are u jobless and u need where u can make source of income?*
♊ *LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT PROGRAM is here for you! With a little amount u can earn and make more more source of income without any problems*
♊ *LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT PROGRAM is a platform network that deal with investing of money just within 45mins you will get back your money double*
*Thank you for your time you can click on the link below to get started, please only serious minded People are expected to message the administrator.*….
CONTACT NAME Mrs. ELIZABETH TINA
CONTACT:- 09036369810
*LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT PROGRAM*
♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️
♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️
*NO MORE EXCUSES*
1. I don’t have money
2. I can’t talk to people
3. I don’t do stuff like this
4. I’m too Busy
Your excuses may be legit but they won’t improve your Life.
• *LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT PROGRAM is Fully Registered with CAC. WHICH IS COOPERATE AFFAIR COMMISSION( For those Who Think LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT is Not Registered)*
*LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT PROGRAM is a platform network that deal with investing of money just within 45mins you will get back your money double*
CONTACT:- +2349036369810
*LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT PROGRAM PACKAGE’S*
*N20,000====N40,000*
*N30, 000====N60,000*
*N50,000====N100,000*
*N100,000====N200,000*
*N200,000 ====N400,000*
*N400,000====N800,000*
*==============*
*I know you are skeptical about this because of the negative experience a lot of issues as regards scamming in the global world. I assure you 101% that you won’t lose your money this is because I know the risk of this profit oriented business and I know how to avoid them using my trading skills and signals to make only wins and no losses.*
*Are u a worker?*
♊ *Are u a student looking for your school fees? Are u a woman looking for money to pay your children school fees?*
♊ *Are u jobless and u need where u can make source of income?*
♊ *LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT PROGRAM is here for you! With a little amount u can earn and make more more source of income without any problems*
♊ *LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT PROGRAM is a platform network that deal with investing of money just within 45mins you will get back your money double*
*Thank you for your time you can click on the link below to get started, please only serious minded People are expected to message the administrator.*…
CONTACT NAME Mrs. ELIZABETH TINA
CONTACT:- 09036369810.