Gathering Themes & Subjects; Agamemnon (Conclusion)

This morning please work on your play project.

Let's start with that list of premises. Answer this question: What do you want to write about?

• Historical/legendary figures
• Social problems
• Contemporary issues
• Absurdity
• Romance and good times
• Family issues
• Sex and gender issues
• Health issues (death & dying, etc.)
• Psychological issues
• Religious or philosophical issues
• Other* (continue this list--your options are only limited to your imagination!)

Many of these things can be combined in a longer play. In a short 10-minute play it is usually best to stick with one premise.

Before you write your play, you should draft ideas about characters/settings and major plot events: conflicts, complications, crisis, turning points (peripety), anagnorisis, dark moments, enlightenments, climax, resolutions, etc.

Start fleshing out ideas based on SETTING: where does the play take place (time period, location, weather/season, time of day, etc.); will you need many settings to tell your story or can you consolidate your locations/times and bring UNITY of TIME to your play?

Start fleshing out characters that might appear in your play. Not all should or have to show up. Some are just talked about (offstage characters). Consider whose story you want to tell? Who is likely to be involved? Use the packet of characters for some ideas--or create your own. It's all good. The best stories are character driven. Characterization is the key!

Start fleshing out plot (see above). How many scenes or acts is your story likely to cover? How will each scene fit together to tell an interesting, creative, and effective story?

Finally, consider theme/subject. 

Come up with some subjects for your play: what is the main topic or issue your play will deal with? Marital infidelity? Revenge? Suicide? Broken promises? Dealing with difficult people? Family issues? See the bulleted list above for some ideas. Flesh these out! Pick a subject.

THEME (or IDEA in Aristotle): theme is your POINT OF VIEW about the subject.

Read and consider the packet on theme. Complete these activities in the packet along with others. 

at 8:00 we'll continue and complete Agamemnon. Please turn in your "test" at the end of our viewing.

HOMEWORK: None.