DIRECTIONS:

• Please put a complete heading at the top of your paper. Name, class, date, professor's name.
• Please type the question before your answer.
• Please double space your answers.
• This must be typewritten.  Handwritten assignments will not be accepted.
• (Minus 5 points for each infraction.)

Each of these questions correspond to some component of Aristotle's Elements

Plot: The Exposition
1) Briefly describe the "antecedent action" (everything that has happened before the play begins) and how is it revealed.

2) What was the "point of attack"?  The point in the play in which things change.  Support your answers by explaining why you think you this is so.

3) What was the main conflict?  (The clash of opposing forces man vs. self, man, environment, natural forces, group, God, or group vs. group)    Support your answers by explaining why you think you this is so.

4) What was the climax in the play?  (The point at which one or the other of the forces is favored; the point at which events must turn in one direction or another. Not necessarily the "high point"  Sometimes referred to as a "reversal" or a "discovery.")    Support your answers by explaining why you think you this is so.
 

CHARACTERS:
5) In your opinion, who was the Protagonist? -- "agon" = struggle; the pro side of the struggle -- often used to refer to the lead character in a tragedy.  Describe the protagonist's physical, social, and psychological traits.

6) In your opinion, who was the Antagonist? -- the anti side of the struggle -- often the bad guy, but could be anyone / thing that struggles against the protagonist.  Describe the antagonist's physical, social, and psychological traits.

THOUGHT/THEME:
7) In your opinion, what was the idea, theme of the play?  It is often allegorical or symbolic sometimes direct, sometimes indirect.  Plays may often be written about an idea, but the playwright will probably focus more on plot and character to get idea across -- plays are seldom about an idea.    Support your answers by explaining why you think you this is so.

DICTION / LANGUAGE:
8) Describe the use of "diction" in the play.  Describe how language is used to: depart information, reveal characters, characterize, direct attention, reveal themes and ideas establish mood / tone, establish tempo / rhythm appropriate to a character.  You may choose to focus on one character and analyze how that character speaks.  Support your answers by explaining what you think this communicates about the character.  You should use quotations from the text to support your answer.

MUSIC / SONG:
9) The sound of the dialog, etc. musicality, rhythm, pace, etc. helps establish mood, characterize, lend variety, pleasurable.  Remember that we went over what a Greek theatre sounded like and how it was performed in class.  Do not describe what you imagine from what the author described but rather how a Greek play was set like.

SPECTACLE
10) Describe the costume, setting and blocking of the play.  Remember that we went over what a Greek theatre looked like in class.  Do not describe what you imagine from what the author described but rather how a Greek play was set like.