In a drama analysis, you examine the structure of drama. The focus of the analysis is usually on a specific scene. In the subsequent drama interpretation you interpret the scene. Here you will learn how to analyze and interpret drama successfully!
Improve grades now with fun
and immediately get access to all contents!
Content
What is a drama analysis or. Drama interpretation?
In a drama analysis, also called scene analysis or dialogue analysis, a scene of a Dramas dissected into its individual parts and then interpreted. Depending on the task, analysis and interpretation focus on a particular dialogue, location, or characters in the drama. A drama analysis and interpretation consists of an introduction, a main part and a conclusion. Here you learn step by step how to build a drama analysis!
Preparation of a drama analysis and interpretation
When analyzing a drama, there are several things to keep in mind: You summarize the content, examine the language, and characterize the characters. Then you interpret your results. Before you start, you should read well the task of the drama analysis. Pay attention to what exactly is to be analyzed. Afterwards, you should read through the text passage to be analyzed several times and mark the text passages that can help you solve the assignment.
No matter what type of text you are examining, if you take your time in the Preparation this will benefit you later in any case. Even though it is not mandatory, it can be very helpful if you use some Outline or a writing plan create. You can use the outline as a guide when writing your analysis.
Structure of a drama analysis and interpretation
A drama analysis is composed of introduction, main part and conclusion.
Introduction to drama analysis and interpretation
The Introduction has the task of providing basic information about the scene being analyzed. You should always imagine that your text is being read by someone who knows nothing about drama. The introduction to a drama analysis includes:
Classification of the scene: In which play does the scene occur?? (work, author, year of origin, etc.). time of the premiere, epoch, history of its creation)
At what point in the play is the scene located? (act, scene or elevator)
Placement in the context of the drama: How does the scene fit into the play in terms of content?? (review, scene content)
Depending on the task, you will formulate your thesis after the introductory sentence. In the following analysis, you will examine whether this thesis applies to the scene or not.
Main part of a drama analysis and interpretation
The Main part is the heart of every drama analysis. It consists mainly of two parts: The synopsis and the analysis of the scene.
First you formulate Summary of the scene, this should give a rough overview of its content. Here the W-questions are answered: Who? What? Where? When? Why? It is important that you do not describe in too much detail, but focus only on the most important parts of the scene. The motto is: as much as necessary, as little as possible. In the summary, you do not yet evaluate, comment on, or interpret the scene. You use only your own words and refrain from quoting from the text. Content statements are always formulated in the present tense, i.e. in the present day.
After the summary of the content follows the Analysis of the scene. At this point, you will dissect the text or the scene. break down the text into parts and describe features and characteristics of the scene. In a drama, unlike in epic texts, there is no narrator. Therefore, you should pay special attention to the study of the characters’ speech in the main section. In addition, it may be necessary to address stage directions.
In your analysis, you should pay particular attention to the following points:
What are the characteristics of the scene?
- What functions does the scene perform in relation to the drama as a whole??
- Do you detect period features? If so, which ones?
- How is the time in the scene arranged? Are there z.B. Time jumps?
- How is the space in which the action takes place designed?? What clues do z.B. The stage directions? What is the relationship of the space to the action?
What are the characteristics of the characters?
- What is said about the appearance of the characters involved?
- What is the relationship between the appearance of the characters and the plot?? What does it say about the status of the characters?
- What character traits are attributed to the characters?
- What is the relationship between the characters??
- How do the characters speak to each other? How is the conversation and speech part shaped?? Who speaks and how much?
- Who is the main character in the scene?
- What are the motives of the characters?
- Does the scene have a certain effect on the main character?
What does the linguistic composition look like?
- What are the characteristics of the character speech?
- Is it a dialogue or a monologue??
- How many people are involved in the communication?
- Are there any special features in the language composition, e.g.B. technical language, use of dialects, slang, jargon?
- Are rhetorical stylistic devices used?? If so, which ones? What is the effect of the stylistic devices used?
- Are there key words that appear over and over again?
Interpretation: If the assignment is not only an analysis but also a drama interpretation, you should not only describe but also interpret your observations in the context of the whole drama.
Concluding part of a drama analysis and interpretation
The conclusion of a drama analysis rounds off your analysis and once again summarizes the most important findings. In the conclusion of your drama analysis and drama interpretation you draw a Conclusion and evaluate the analyzed scene in terms of its importance for the whole drama. In addition, in the final part of your drama analysis, you can once again refer to the History of effects and reception of the drama. In addition, a short outlook is also possible: what happens after the analyzed scene? Depending on the task, the final part also includes your own opinion on the text under study. In the introduction, do you have a Thesis After you have formulated your ideas, you go over them again in the conclusion and evaluate them. Has the thesis been confirmed or disproved??