1. PLAY structure
THEATRE ARTS

2. PLAY STRUCTURE
How does a playwright express ideas and convey messages?
How can a structure of a play help audiences gain an understanding of the play’s ideas and messages?

3. PLAY STRUCTURE
WHAT IS IT?
Analyzing a play to identify its parts, explain its arrangement and deduce the meaning that arises from them and their relation to the whole.

4. CLIMAX
MOOD
RISING ACTION
FALLING ACTION
PLOT
THEME
INITIAL INCIDENT
CONFLICT
P vs M
P vs Himself
P vs Society
OPENING SITUATION
DENOUEMENT

5. PLAY STRUCTURE
OPENING SITUATION: The scene at the rise of the curtain; introduces location, setting and character.
INITIAL INCIDENT: The first event that suggests there will be a change in the situation. Conflict is established and propels the plot forward.
RISING / FALLING ACTION: Events which lead to / follow the climax.

6. PLAY STRUCTURE
CLIMAX: The highest point of emotional intensity that occurs near the middle or end, which all action has been leading to.
DENOUEMENT: The summary of all events in the play. Moral or theme is clear.
MOOD: The emotional state of the play.
PLOT: The sequence of events in the play.

7. PLAY STRUCTURE
THEME: The basic idea of the play that gives unity to all the internal elements.
CONLFICT: The problem or struggle within the play, involving opposition between the protagonist and antagonist.
Man (protagonist) vs. Man
Man (protagonist) vs. Society
Man (protagonist) vs. Himself

8. CLIMAX
MOOD
RISING ACTION
FALLING ACTION
PLOT
THEME
INITIAL INCIDENT
CONFLICT
P vs M
P vs Himself
P vs Society
OPENING SITUATION
DENOUEMENT

9. GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES
The facts that govern the characters in which they live.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTS
PREVIOUS ACTION
POLAR ATTITUDE

10. GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES CLIMAX MOOD FALLING ACTION RISING ACTION PLOT
THEME
CONFLICT
P vs M
P vs Himself
P vs Society
INITIAL INCIDENT
OPENING SITUATION
DENOUEMENT

11. Environmental facts Date Geographical Location Social Environment
Political Environment
Religious Environment
Economic Environment

12. Previous Action
Information about character’s background or plot action that occurred prior to the beginning of the play.
Is identified throughout the Rising Action of the play.
Helps to give plot and character motivation for the action happening now.

13. POLAR ATTITUDE
The shifting of ideas or attitude of the protagonist, from the beginning of the play to the end. The arc of the main character.

14. GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES geographical date social political economic
CLIMAX
date
geographical
social
political
economic
MOOD
religious
Previous Action
PLOT
Polar Attitude
FALLING ACTION
RISING ACTION
THEME
CONFLICT
P vs M
P vs Himself
P vs Society
INITIAL INCIDENT
OPENING SITUATION
DENOUEMENT