Resource of the Week - Key Vocabulary in Plays
Our resource this week is a glossary of dramatic terms - this is key vocabulary that any student should know for analysing plays effectively. It is designed for students in secondary education who require an overview of key dramatic concepts and terminology when studying plays in English literature. You can download the resource by visiting our English resources section on our website or download it directly by clicking here.
This is a great resource for students to use to develop their understanding of how to identify the playwight’’s methods in a play as well as deploy correct names for different techniques and devices in their analysis. The resource provides an explanation of a series of key concepts and terms as well as a general context for applying them correctly in your literary analysis. The resource itself is quite explanatory, however, below is our guidance for students when studying plays:
An analysis of a play does not mean only summarising the plot of the play. Good analysis requires giving their own perspective on the play and evaluating how the playwright has given this impression – this means that different people will interpret the play differently.
Plays are written to be performed on stage. Not to be read alone or in a group, in the way you are currently studying it in class. To develop a deeper understanding of a play’s design, you should watch a performance - live if possible. However, if this is no possible, you will be able to find performances of most plays online. Watch them!
Use the correct terminology when writing about plays. Reference the “playwright”, not the writer. Reference the “audience”, not the reader. This can be a tricky point to get right and remember but it is vital that you do so to demonstrate your understanding effectively.
Read different interpretations of the play online using different revision websites. Download a revision guide for the play to summarise the key themes, characters and scenes. Practise setting yourself essay titles related to the play in the same manner as the exam and planning/writing your responses.
We hope that this resource will be used to aid students’ understanding of plays, the playwright’s methods and the ways in which they can identify and analyse these in their work. This should enable students to further access their learning in studying plays. From all of us at Libra Education, never stop learning!