This document provides an overview of the elements and conventions of drama, with a focus on Arthur Miller's play The Crucible. It discusses the key components of drama, including setting, plot structure, characters, themes, and the limitations of staging plays. It also outlines different types of dramas and examines how The Crucible conforms to and deviates from these genres and conventions. The document concludes by providing guidance on writing formal analytical essays about literary texts, with a specific example for analyzing and interpreting The Crucible.

1. The Crucible
Arthur Miller
Part 3 - Literature texts and contexts
Drama

2. Drama
greatest form of mass entertainment in Western World
(turn of 20th Century)
designed to be acted by players on a stage before audience
success depends on cooperation between writers, actors,
producers in accepting limitations of stage
difficult to be read as it is meant to be seen and not read
demands on imagination and attention in voices and
see actions and intentions

3. Types of Dramas
Historical - Biblical stories and saints
Tragedy - involves the ruin of the leading characters
Comedy - drama involving real but temporary
difficulties. The ending is happy.
Social Criticism - drama in which social, economic or
political problems and themes are portrayed.
One-act Play - brief, condensed and single in effect.

4. Elements of Drama
Setting
Plot and plot structure
Characters and Characterisation
Conflict Theme
Suspense

5. Setting
limitations of the stage area
limited to as few changes as possible
actions physically restricted on stage and
depend on dialogue, lighting and sound effects
physical confinement that makes writing
plays more difficult than any other narrative
form

6. Plot
limited to physical actions and changes of location or scene
depends on conflict, suspense and mood to carry action forward
Technical divisions
Acts and Scenes
Preliminary exposition
Moment of inciting force
Rising action
Climax
Falling action
Dénouement

7. Characters and
Characterisation
merely instruments in the plot or have control of the
action
characters must appear natural so their motivations
and reactions as well as their exits and entrances
seem realistic
characters are developed through their dialogues and
their actions
characters must be strongly drawn, consistent and
believable

8. Written
Tasks
Weighting: 20%

9. Written Tasks
A written task demonstrates the student’s ability to choose
an imaginative way of exploring an aspect of the material
studied in the course.
It must show a critical engagement with an aspect of a text or
a topic.
Students complete at least four written tasks, two of which
are submitted for external assessment.
The written tasks are assessed according to the assessment
criteria published in this guide.
The maximum mark for each written task is 20.

10. Formal requirements for
tasks 1 and 2
One of the tasks submitted for external assessment must be
a critical response to one of six prescribed questions (task 2).
One of the tasks submitted for external assessment must be
based on a literary text studied in part 3 or part 4 of the
course. The other must be based on material studied in part 1
or part 2 of the course.
• Each task must be 800–1,000 words in length; task 1
should be accompanied by a rationale of 200– 300 words,
while task 2 should be accompanied by an outline.
If the word limits are exceeded, the assessment will be based
on the first 1,000 words of the task for both tasks 1 and 2,
and on the first 300 words of the rationale for task 1.

11. Aims of task 2
Task 2 takes the form of a critical response and is a
requirement of the HL course only.
to consider in greater detail the material studied in the four
parts of the language A: language and literature course
to reflect and question in greater depth the values, beliefs
and attitudes that are implied in the texts studied
to encourage students to view texts in a number of ways
to enable students to give an individual response to the way
in which texts can be understood in the light of the
prescribed questions.

12. Formal Requirements
There are two prescribed questions for each
of the areas of study listed below. Task 2 is a
critical response to one of these six questions.
The prescribed questions are designed to be as
open as possible and are intended to highlight
broad areas within which students can
explore and develop their responses to the
texts..

13. Outline
The prescribed question that has been chosen
the title of the text(s) for analysis
the part of the course to which the task refers
three or four key points that explain the particular focus of the
task.
Where appropriate, task 2 must reference, in a bibliography, the relevant
support documentation such as the newspaper article or magazine
advertisement on which it is based.
The critical response is in the style of a formal essay and must be clearly
structured with an introduction, clearly developed ideas or arguments
and a conclusion.

14. Reader,
Culture and
Text

15. 1. How could the text be read and
interpreted differently by two
different readers?
The study and analysis of possbile readings of The
Crucible by black American slaves.
The reading of the Crucible by women in the 19th
Century and how it would be different. (Women would
have been powerless, they would have agreed on how
things were handle...)
21st Century caused: indignant towards Proctor
because he was not reprimanded for cheating

16. 2. If the text had been written in a
different time or place or language or for a
different audience, how and why might it
differ?
The study and analysis of a literary work on
the theme of prejudice that highlights different
assumptions about race, religion, and so on
Instead of Christianity:
Muslims, terrorism, mental illnesses,
corruption, homosexuality (80s), alien attacks,
robots, Chinese (80-90s), communism (political
views), Hitler, stds,

17. Power and
Privilege

18. 1. How and why is a social group
represented in a particular way?
Tituba is accused no one doubts but Proctor, etc were doubted
and recommended to lie. How are land owners represented vs
black slaves?
Ministers are never questioned, Judges are never questioned.
Women are powerless, only 2 men were hanged.
Men couldn't be tempted by Satan as easily as women.
Women where witches but Proctor was judged as the antichrist.
Children are seen as pure and incapable of lying

19. 2. Which social groups are
marginalised, excluded or silenced
within the text?
Slaves were marginalised, old people
Putnam had power over the old man and
many others.
Widows and the homeless were hanged.
Living before marriage was not
appropriate

20. Text and Genre

21. 1. How does the text conform to, or
deviate from, the conventions of a
particular genre, and for what purpose?
The study and analysis of an author’s
reworking of fairy tales
The study and analysis of a novel that
uses dramatic dialogue, poetry, letters,
accounts of journeys

22. 2. How has the text borrowed from
other texts, and with what
effects?
Use of Biblical references within the play.
To add the context and credibility of the
times and as part of the theme.

24. Analysis
C What the quote shows
about … this and that
C-B
Interpretation
B
A
Another
interpretation
and link to the
times it was
written

25. Essay Writing
Introduction
Information about the author that is relevant.
Information of times it was written.
Aim of the essay
Body
Point, Evidence, Explain
Point Evidence, Explain
Conclusion
Restate your aim
summarise your points
Don’t bring
anything new in
the conclusion!!