Layout: Play, poem or prose? Plays, poems and prose (novels) are all very different, particularly in the way in which they are formatted or set out. Can you identify a play, a poem or a piece of prose writing from the layout alone?

Look at the series of lines on the board. Which represents the play, which is the poem and which is the example of prose writing?

What is it? ________________________________ _____________________________________ ____________________________________ _____________________________________ ___________________________________ __________________________________ ____________________________ ___________________________________ ______________________ Is this a play, poem or a piece of prose writing? Why do you think this?

What about this? _______________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ _______ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________

And this? ______ _______________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _ _______:___________________________________ _____________________________ _________________________________ ________________________________ _______________________________________ _____________________________________ _______________________________ _____________________________________ ______________________ ______:_____________ _________: _______________________________ _______:____________________________ _________: _________________________________ __________________

And the answers are………

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‘No Man is an Island’ by John Donne. No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. Poetry

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Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. Chapter V. When I wak'd it was broad Day, the Weather clear, and the Storm abated, so that the Sea did not rage and swell as before: But that which surpris'd me most, was, that the Ship was lifted off in the Night from the Sand where she lay, by the Swelling of the Tyde, and was driven up almost as far as the Rock which I first mention'd, where I had been so bruis'd by the dashing me against it; this being within about a Mile from the Shore where I was, and the Ship seeming to stand upright still, I wish'd my self on board, that, at least, I might save some necessary things for my use. When I came down from my Appartment in the Tree, I look'd about me again, and the first thing I found was the Boat, which lay as the Wind and the Sea had toss'd her up upon the Land, about two Miles on my right Hand. I walk'd as far as I could upon the Shore to have got to her, but found a Neck or Inlet of Water between me and the Boat, which was about half a Mile broad, so I came back for the present, being more intent upon getting at the Ship, where I hop'd to find something for my present Subsistence. Prose

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ACT II SCENE I. Another part of the island. Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO, ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and others GONZALO:Beseech you, sir, be merry; you have cause, So have we all, of joy; for our escape Is much beyond our loss. Our hint of woe Is common; every day some sailor's wife, The masters of some merchant and the merchant Have just our theme of woe; but for the miracle, I mean our preservation, few in millions Can speak like us: then wisely, good sir, weigh Our sorrow with our comfort. ALONSO:Prithee, peace. SEBASTIAN: He receives comfort like cold porridge. ANTONIO:The visitor will not give him o'er so. SEBASTIAN: Look he's winding up the watch of his wit; by and by it will strike. Play-script

So, what does a play script have that the others do not?

ACT II SCENE I. Another part of the island. Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO, ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and others GONZALO:Beseech you, sir, be merry; you have cause, So have we all, of joy; for our escape Is much beyond our loss. Our hint of woe Is common; every day some sailor's wife, The masters of some merchant and the merchant Have just our theme of woe; but for the miracle, I mean our preservation, few in millions Can speak like us: then wisely, good sir, weigh Our sorrow with our comfort. ALONSO:Prithee, peace. SEBASTIAN: He receives comfort like cold porridge. Use headers to explain the scene and basic setting. Use italics for stage directions Use capital letters for character names Use a colon after each character name Remember to still use punctuation at the end of each speaking part Click on the highlighted bits to show some conventions of play scripts: