Student Question
What are key guidelines for analyzing a drama scene or character?
Quick answer:
To analyze a drama scene or character, focus on the central element of conflict, which drives the narrative. Examine the opposing forces involved, such as social forces, values, or loyalties, and how these create tension and lead to a climax and resolution. For character analysis, assess whether the character is believable, consistent, and experiencing internal conflicts. This approach draws on Eugene Scribe's analysis of well-made play structures.
The essential element of drama is "conflict", by which is meant the story to unfold is the battle between two forces of roughly equal strength, in a closed space (so that the pressure and tension canot be relieved by separating the two combatants), with rising complications leading to a climax and resolution. (Much of this vocabulary is borrowed from Eugene Scribe's amalysis of the well-made play structure.) So your analysis of a drama/play can start with a close look at what the conflict consists of--opposing social forces? Opposing values (perhaps from two generations)? Opposing loyalties? etc. As for character analysis,the same kind of scrutiny will serve--does the character ring true, is the character consistent, is the character suffering from an internal conflict of values? etc.
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