Plays: Structure & Characters

Structure of Palys

• Plays have a variation of structures. However, we are going to focus on the most common and rather classical structure.
• Every play must have a theme and/or sub-themes, a plot and/or sub-plots.
• The plot puts the theme into action and conveys the ideas through the words and actions of the characters, and through the chain of events.

Untitled Slide

• A classical structure of a play includes 4 to five acts. Each act might have one to two or three scenes.
• The setting is what determines the time (period or era) and place of the play. Sometimes, writers do not mention it if it is not important.
• Stage directions:

The Plot

The Plot

• The plot puts the theme into action and conveys the ideas through the words and actions of the characters, and through the chain of events.
• Usually the plot consists of: a beginning - middle - end.

The beginning is sometimes called the exposition.