Working with plays in the English classroom

Pre-activity no. 1
This pre-activity is based on the “6 levels theory” worked out here in a top-down approach. Questions are
formed as Skardhamar’s recommendation for open, dialog based analysis questions.

Discuss and answer in groups:

LEVEL 1: THE THEME
What do you think this play is about? What issues and problems is it dealing with?

LEVEL 2: THE INTERRELATIONS

Try and describe the relationship between the characters. How can the different
relationships be characterized? Find places in the text that show it.

LEVEL 3: THE CHARACTERS

What are the different characters like? Describe each character.

LEVEL 4: THE SETTING/SURROUNDINGS

Where does the play take place and how does it look? Describe the surroundings.
THE SENSATION
4.a What smells do you think there are? What sounds do you think there are?
THE ATMOSPHERE
4.b How would you describe the atmosphere of the place?

Work individually:
LEVEL 5: THE TEXT
Mark the phrases, sayings and references in the text that you don’t know or understand.
LEVEL 6: THE WORDS
Mark the words you don’t understand the meaning of or don’t know how to pronounce.

The English Classroom y © Kasper Kjeldgaard Stoltz