Drama: First Reading Questions

Plot Summary

• What is the story told in this play? What is happening, to whom, where. when, and how?

Free Association

• What personal or cultural associations come to your mind as you read? What literary associations?
• What do you most "recognize" as "true to life"?
• What do you most like or dislike about the story?
• If you've read anything by this author before, what do you expect to find in this story?

First Questionings

Plot

• Are there parts of the story which don't seem to fit? Is anything confusing, out of order, apparently irrelevant? Which elements do you have to figure out for yourself, based on the characters' talk and behavior?
• Were you surprised by anything that happened?

Character

• What character or relationship between characters interests you the most and why?
• Do any characters seem extraneous? Do they act as you would expect?
• Do changes or behavior in any of the characters seem plausible or implausible?
• How has the author caused you to sympathize--or not--with certain characters?

Setting

• How much of a role does the scene setting seem to play in this play?

Symbolism and Style

• Do characters or setting seem to represent something besides themselves?
• Do you notice anything special about the style of the play?
• What lines in the play stand out most for you?

Preliminary Interpretation

• What (in fairly simple terms) would you say that a major theme or motif of the play is? Is it closely connected with the title?

Re-read the story at least once. Now consider the re-reading questions