Understanding Drama

What is the definition of a playwright?

• A person who writes novels

• A person who writes poems

• A person who writes plays

• A person who writes essays

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Understanding word meanings

What is a drama according to the passage?

• A story meant to be acted out on stage or read in a book

• A type of comedy

• A musical performance

• A painting

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Comprehending a text

According to the text, which two statements best describe the contributions of Lorraine Hansberry to the field of drama?

• She was the first black woman to write a play that went to Broadway

• She introduced the concept of dialogue in plays

• She wrote the groundbreaking play A Raisin in the Sun

• She was known for her stage direction skills

• She acted as the main character in A Raisin in the Sun

What does the term 'dialogue' refer to in the context of a play?

• The actions performed by the actors

• The setting of the play

• The words spoken by the actors

• The costumes worn by the actors

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Understanding word meanings

What are props in the context of acting?

• Costumes worn by actors

• Lines spoken by actors

• Everything that an actor touches or uses on the stage

• Stage directions given to actors

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Understanding word meanings

What are stage directions?

• Dialogue for the actors

• Instructions for lighting

• Instructions for the audience

• Instructions for actors on how to act

What is an act in a play?

• A character's monologue

• A big section broken into scenes

• A small section of the story

• A single performance

What is a theme in a play?

• The title of the play

• A deeper message or idea

• The main character

• The setting of the play

Read the following passage from the play Our Town by Thornton Wilder:

George: Hello Emily!
Emily: [Shyly, turning from trellis] H’lo!
George: [Edging down center, socking mitt with baseball] You made a fine speech in class.
Emily: Well--I was really ready to talk about the Monroe Doctrine, but at the last minute Miss Corcoran made me talk about the Louisiana Purchase instead. I worked an awful long time on both of them.
George: [Puts ball in back pocket, looks at own house, edges to the bench] Gee, it’s funny Emily. From my window up there I can just see your head nights when you’re doing your homework over in your room. [Both face front, shy throughout]

Which of these is an example of a stage direction?

• • George: Hello Emily!

• [Both face front, shy throughout]

• George: You made a fine speech in class.

• • Emily: I was really ready to talk about the Monroe Doctrine.

In a play, information about characters’ motivations and character traits comes from the

• dialogue

• set and props

• stage directions

• • audience’s imagination