Dramatic Techniques
What technique am I?
They tell us what should be happening on stage and will often include clues, e.g. the darkening of the stage may suggest something bad approaching. They can be used for a whole spectrum of things - instructions to directors about set, costume, props etc and instructions to actors about movement, gesture, facial expression, tone of voice etc.
Stage Directions
In Scene 5, Blanche is writing a letter to which old admirer?
Shep Huntleigh
Blanche tells Stella to turn off the light because
C. Blanche is afraid the light will make her look unattractive
What subject did Blanche teach at Laurel High School?
A. English
B. Music
C. Social Studies
D. Math
A. English
Music is a big part of the play as well as the life in New Orleans. The music can represent
a. The quiet, simple life
b. The mix of cultures
c. The emotional spirit of the place
d. Both b and c
e. Both a and c
D. Both b and c
What is the purpose of stage directions? Provide two reasons why they are important.
They inform the director of the setting and what props are required.
They inform the actor of what actions and movements they need to do
Stanley says he was born under which star sign, and what animal goes with it?
Capricorn, Goat
While Stella is waiting alone in the apartment, she
4. All of the above
Who lives upstairs from Stanley and Stella?
A. The Negro woman
B. No one
C. Mitch and his mother
D. Steve and Eunice
D. Steve and Eunice
Blanche concocts a scheme to escape involving
B. Wealthy oil man named Shep
What technique am I?
When an object is used to represent something else, e.g. a broken vase may ___________ a broken relationship.
Symbolism
Stanley mentions a man who claims he met Blanche at what hotel in Laurel
The Hotel Flamingo (the man is named Shaw)
List 3 similarities between Blanche and Stanley
They both require/desire power
They usually are the ones in control/ have the power
They both love Stella
They are both strong personalities
They have both become strong/rough due to their situation
Which of the following accurately describes Elysian Fields?
A. Ethnically diverse, working class, quiet
B. Mostly white, working class, noisy
C. Ethnically diverse, working class, noisy
D. Mostly Hispanic, middle class, sparsely populated
C. Ethnically diverse, working class, noisy
When Stella offers Blanche another drink and she says, “No, one’s my limit,” this is an example of
A. Dramatic irony
What technique am I?
Often used to create a mood or atmosphere. When a playwright includes specific details for _____________ , you must imaging the effect of this in performance and what the playwright is trying to convey.
Lighting
Who comes to the door collecting for the Evening Star, and what does Blanche do?
A young newspaper collector; she flirts with him and kisses him before sending him away
The plot of A Streetcar Named Desire is driven by the duelling personalities of Blanche and Stanley. What are the sources of their animosity toward one another?
The most obvious difference between Blanche and Stanley is one of social background. Whereas Blanche comes from an old Southern family and was raised to see herself as socially elite, Stanley comes from an immigrant family and is a proud member of the working class.
Stanley also believes that Blanche is selfish and stole Stella's share of the sale of Belle Reve (to pay for her clothes, jewelery and accessories)
What colour does Williams say illuminates the stage at the start of the play?
"Tender Blue"
The polka music can be considered
B. A motif
What technique am I?
This is when the audience knows something that the characters on stage don't - perhaps it might be a detail that we have seen in another scene or something that we know not to be the case.
Dramatic Irony
In Scene 4, Blanche compares Stanley to an animal in a long speech. Who is she talking to, who overhears it (from where), and why does it matter?
She is talking to Stella. Stanley, who is standing outside, overhears it. It sets up his hostility toward her (dramatic irony, since the audience knows he heard, and Blanche doesn’t).
Create a family tree for the following characters
- Blanche
- Mitch
- Stella
- Stanley
- Eunice & Steve Hubbell
- Shep
Blanche - Sister of Stella
Mitch - friend of Stanley and love interest of Blanche
Stella - Sister to Blanche - Married to Stanley
Stanley - Married to Stella - friends with Mitch
Shep - Former friend of Blanche
Eunice & Steve
Hubbell - married couple that lives upstairs from Stanley and Stella
Which is the correct spelling
A. The Varsouviana Polka
B. The Versouviana Polka
C. The Versouvian Polka
D. The Varsoviana Polka
A. The Varsouviana Polka
Explain two different ways that Williams depicts Blanche's nervousness in Scene 1 of A Streetcar Named Desire.
While waiting for Stella, Blanche demonstrates her nervousness in several ways. First, she sneaks a drink and then hides the evidence. She also seems very annoyed by the harsh glare of the lights in the apartment and orders Stella to "turn that over-light off!" She jumps when a cat screeches outside the apartment.