Our resource this week is a summary of key dramatic concepts - these are key ideas 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 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 prominent ideas and features in a play. 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:

• Research the historical and cultural context of the play and the playwright to refine your understanding of the play’s importance and how to analyse it effectively.

• Practice writing essays to discuss the core concepts and techniques employed in the play and give your critical opinion on them. To improve further, practise developing alternative interpretations of a play’s core themes.

• A theme is a central idea in a play; it is a perspective or view on life. Crucially, a theme is a statement – not merely a single word. To take the example of Macbeth, the theme is not just “Ambition", but "Unchecked ambition can lead to destruction". The themes of a play are the playwright's way of communicating and sharing key perspectives.

• Develop a list of key quotes separated according to the central themes of the play. Memorise these quotes and practise employing them in your writing.

• Make a list of the key motifs and symbols in the play and separate them according to the central themes of the play. Consider how these motifs and symbols serve to develop the themes of the play and incorporate your analysis into your writing.

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!