N.B. Examples are taken from the Cambridge School Shakespeare edition of Romeo and Juliet. Dramatic techniques are used by playwrights to give clues to the audience about what is happening, or to emphasise a theme, character or a significant event. Cut out the definitions and the reasons why each dramatic technique is used and put them into the table. Dramatic technique Foreshadowing Juliet: Methinks I see thee now, thou art so low,/ As one dead in the bottom of a tomb. Asides Sampson: [Aside to Gregory] Is the law of our side if I say ay? Stage directions [Tybalt under Romeo s arm thrusts Mercutio in.] Away Tybalt. Timing Enter Prince, Old Montague, Capulet, their wives and all. Prince: Where are the vile beginners of this fray? Stichomythia Gregory: Do you quarrel, sir? Abraham: Quarrel, sir? No, sir. www.teachit.co.uk 2012 16930 Page 1 of 5
Dramatic technique Pathetic fallacy Benvolio: For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring. Exits Benvolio: Why dost thou stay? Exit Romeo Entrances Enter Romeo. Tybalt: Well, peace be with you sir, here comes my man. Dramatic irony Romeo: I love thee better than thou canst devise,/ Till thou shalt know the reason of my love; Soliloquy Juliet: I have bought the mansion of a love,/ But not possessed it, and though I am sold,/ Not yet enjoyed. www.teachit.co.uk 2012 16930 Page 2 of 5
To indicate or give signs beforehand of something that will happen later. Alternate single lines spoken in turn by two characters. When a character talks directly to themselves (and the audience). When a character leaves Prompt actors to move and tell the reader what is happening on stage. The pace of the drama, or appropriate moments when things happen. When the audience is aware of something that the characters are not. Giving human emotions or characteristics to inanimate objects and nature. When a character arrives on When a character temporarily turns away and speaks directly to the audience /another character. www.teachit.co.uk 2012 16930 Page 3 of 5
Used to create contrasts in a scene or disrupt what we might expect to happen next. To reveal the character s thoughts and feelings to the audience and not the other characters in the play. Used to include a character in a scene. Used to show an argument between characters. Can also be used as a battle of wits. To create tension about the possibility of something happening and sometimes to prepare the audience for a shocking event. Used to remove a character from the action. Used to match the weather with the mood of the scene. They create the drama on the stage and bring the text alive. To help understand the character s real feelings at a particular time often used for humour or to help us empathise with them. Inform the audience without the character knowing, allowing them to have a different interpretation of events than the characters involved. www.teachit.co.uk 2012 16930 Page 4 of 5
Teacher answer sheet Dramatic technique Foreshadowing Juliet: Methinks I see thee now, thou art so low,/ As one dead in the bottom of a tomb. Asides Sampson: [Aside to Gregory] Is the law of our side if I say ay? Stage directions [Tybalt under Romeo s arm thrusts Mercutio in.] Away Tybalt. To indicate or give signs beforehand of something that will happen later. When a character temporarily turns away and speaks directly to the audience /another character. Prompt actors to move and tell the reader what is happening on stage. To create tension about the possibility of something happening and sometimes to prepare the audience for a shocking event. To help understand the character s real feelings at a particular time often used for humour or to help us empathise with them. They create the drama on the stage and bring the text alive. Timing Enter Prince, Old Montague, Capulet, their wives and all. Prince: Where are the vile beginners of this fray? Stichomythia Gregory: Do you quarrel, sir? Abraham: Quarrel, sir? No, sir. Pathetic fallacy Benvolio: For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring. Exits Benvolio: Why dost thou stay? Exit Romeo Entrances Enter Romeo. Tybalt: Well, peace be with you sir, here comes my man. Dramatic irony Romeo: I love thee better than thou canst devise,/ Till thou shalt know the reason of my love; Soliloquy Juliet: I have bought the mansion of a love,/ But not possessed it, and though I am sold,/ Not yet enjoyed. The pace of the drama, or appropriate moments when things happen. Alternate single lines spoken in turn by two characters. Giving human emotions or characteristics to inanimate objects and nature. When a character leaves the stage. When a character arrives on When the audience is aware of something that the characters are not. When a character talks directly to themselves (and the audience). Used to create contrasts in a scene or disrupt what we might expect to happen next. Used to show an argument between characters. Can also be used as a battle of wits. Used to match the weather with the mood of the scene. Used to remove a character from the action. Used to include a character in a scene. Used to inform the audience without the character knowing, allowing them to have a different interpretation of events than the characters involved. To reveal the character s thoughts and feelings to the audience and not the other characters in the play. www.teachit.co.uk 2012 16930 Page 5 of 5