Questions and Answers
What is the term for the way a play is divided into parts?
What is the purpose of a prologue in a drama?
Who delivers the prologue in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet?
What is the function of the chorus in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet?
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What does the prologue in Romeo and Juliet establish?
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What is true about prologues in dramas?
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What is the main purpose of dividing a play into acts and scenes?
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What is the purpose of the background information in the opening of Romeo and Juliet?
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How many acts can a play have?
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What is the function of a scene in a play?
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What is an epilogue in a drama?
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What is the typical number of scenes in an act?
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What indicates a change in scenes?
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What is the purpose of the word 'shadows' in the epilogue of A Midsummer Night's Dream?
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What is the climactic moment in a play called?
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Study Notes
Dramatic Structure
- A drama or play is a story acted out on stage by actors in front of an audience.
- Dramatic structure refers to the way a play is divided into parts, similar to a book with sections and chapters.
The Prologue
- A prologue is a brief introduction to the play, providing important background information about characters and their situations.
- It can introduce main characters, describe their circumstances, or highlight themes of the play.
- The prologue is delivered by an actor or group of actors before the action of the play begins.
- Not all plays contain prologues.
Acts in a Play
- An act is a large section or division of a play.
- Plays can have any number of acts (e.g., Romeo and Juliet has five acts, A Raisin in the Sun has three acts).
- The action of the play occurs within the acts.
- Acts typically contain a character or characters with some type of conflict to resolve.
- The conflict can be internal (mental struggle) or external (struggle against others, society, or nature).
- The play's action builds towards a climax and ultimately resolves the conflict.
Scenes in a Play
- A scene is a small section of the play, a division of an act.
- Scenes are like chapters in a textbook, with each scene telling a small part of the story.
- There is no set number of scenes in an act, but typically two to three scenes per act.
- Scenes usually change when there is a change in setting or focus of the story.
- Physical transformations of the stage's setting or lighting can indicate a change in scenes.
Epilogue
- An epilogue is a short conclusion to a play that occurs after the main action has ended.
- It is similar to a post-game show, with a character addressing the audience directly.
- Epilogues were popular in Shakespeare's time, but not all plays have epilogues.
- In an epilogue, a character may beg the audience's pardon, ask for applause, and provide a final thought or message.
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Description
Learn about the division of plays into acts, scenes, prologues, and epilogues, and how it contributes to the overall dramatic structure. Discover how it enhances the storytelling experience.