Script Analysis
Beyond:
Aristotle and Freytag
Where
are we?
Geographical Temperature
Textural References
Place and Setting Descriptions
When is it happening?
Day, Month, Year?
Special Occasion
Significant Date or Season
Who
is involved?
Socio-economics and Relationships
What are the family relationships?
What are the marital status's?
Who has wealth and who has poverty?
Who
has the power and control?
Governmental Influences
Is it a democracy, monarchy, oligarchy, or dictatorship?
Is it in stability or turmoil?
Are the characters involved?
Religious
Environment
Is it tolerant or intolerant
Is it nationalized or independent?
Is it organized or paganistic?
Are the characters involved?
Morality
and Ethics
How is Sex and the Sexes Viewed?
Are principles and ethics valued?
What exists to uphold these choices?
What
has happened before the play begins?
Extrapolate the past, using the facts in the text.
What
do the characters think about their world?
Are they representative or in revolt?
Are they insiders or outsiders?
Do they change their views throughout the play?
What
is the function of each character?
What are their contributions and do they need to be
visually supported?
Who or what is the protagonist and antagonist?
Identify stereotypes, contrasts, and Supernumeraries
(crowds).
What
is the dialogue mode?
Is it naturalistic (realistic), literary (period), poetic
(intense/visual), or rhythmic (comedy/romance)?
What
is the plays TOTAL action now?
Does the above information change your initial structural
analysis?
Research
Topics
Who is the playwright?
Why was it written?
Who was it written for?
What are the major flaws (plot holes) in the script?