Rabbit Hole Play Analysis
Outline: EXPOSITION/GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES Time (specific year, season, time of day etc.) Place (geographical and specific) Atmosphere and Environment list specific information given by the playwright about the world of the play and cite page numbers (at least five). Socioeconomic status of the main characters Important cultural factors (at least three) Spirituality /Religion (present or absent) If present – discuss specifically where it is included in the script and how it effects the environment and/or characters the relationships between them (minimum three sentences) If absent discuss what might be inferred or explain why you feel the playwright chose to avoid this with the play (minimum three sentences) Previous Action – What has occurred prior to the beginning of the play that has brought us to the point where the dramatic action begins? How and when does the playwright give us the background story? Cite the pages and list what information is given. DRAMATIC ACTION Remember, plot is character in action. We describe a story by using what the characters do. An event is anything that happens. When one event causes or permits another event, the two events together [make up] an action. Actions are a plays primary building blocks. – David Ball What are the actions/events that make up the story? List the actions as a series of cause and effect events as much as is possible, given the structure of the story (minimum of ten actions). CHARACTER ANALYSIS (COMPLETE FOR TWO CHARACTERS) Biographical Factors Name (does this name have any special meanings?) Age (exact if possible, including birth date) Physical traits (gender, height, weight, etc.) Family History and Relationships Occupation Hobbies Any other important information gleaned from the script THEME/THOUGHT The theme of a play is an abstract concept which part or all of that play is about. What is the main idea of the play? Quote specific lines that lead to the main idea (minimum of four examples). What are the secondary themes, if any? What are the various meanings of the title? DIALOGUE/LANGUAGE Words and sentences What type of words and sentence structures are used by the playwright? Is there a specific style of writing used by the playwright? Is there a certain style or pattern used specifically for certain characters? Overall structure of lines and speeches (minimum two sentence explanation) Long? Short and Choppy? Written as poetry? Conversational or monologue? Images created by the words What visual pictures do you see as you read the play? List three or more Special Qualities (i.e. dialect) DRAMATIC STRUCTURE (ARISTOTLE) What is the POINT OF ATTACK? Discuss the major CONFLICT. Identify the INCITING INCIDENT that sets the conflict in motion. How is it identified? What are some of the events dramatized as part of the RISING ACTION (minimum of three)? What is the CLIMAX of this story? What happens after the climax? Is there a segment of FALLING ACTION that contains a RESOLUTION? Is there a satisfying wrap-up of the major conflict? Is there a SUBPLOT? How was it related to the main plot and was it resolved? Are there incidents of DISCOVERY and REVERSAL in the play? Describe them in detail. Are there any other major structural elements present (flashbacks, soliloquies, dream sequence, asides, etc.)?
