CODES & CONVENTIONS
What is a stage direction and give one example from the extract.
A stage direction is a playwright's instruction telling actors what to do physically, not what to say. Example: 'The FISHERMAN casts his net.' or 'The bottle shakes.'
Name ONE prop that would be necessary for the staging of this scene.
Any one of: a net, a bottle (shiny/sealed with a stopper), a wine bottle. Must be a physical object from the scene.
Describe ONE item of clothing the Fisherman would wear and explain why it suits the character.
Must name a specific item (e.g. patched linen tunic, rough trousers rolled to the knee) and justify it using evidence from the text — his poverty, outdoor work, desperation.
What does the Fisherman's opening prayer reveal about his situation? Use a quote.
The prayer ('I'm having a pretty bad trot') reveals he is desperately poor, struggling to provide for his family, and dependent on luck. He has nothing and hopes the sea will provide.
In one sentence, what is an allegory?
An allegory is a story in which characters and events represent abstract ideas or real-world situations beyond the literal narrative, used to communicate a moral or political message.
The word 'imploringly' appears in the extract. What type of convention is this and what does it tell the actor?
It is a delivery instruction. It tells the actor to gesture in a pleading, begging way — showing the Smuggle desperately wants King Shahrayar's permission.
Name TWO props necessary for staging this scene and explain why each is needed.
Net — the Fisherman must physically cast and open it. Bottle/jar — the central object from which the Demon emerges. Both drive the action.
Describe TWO items of clothing for the Fisherman with justification for each, using evidence from the extract.
Two distinct items named and justified. Evidence must reference the text — e.g. 'Don't deprive my children of me' shows poverty; 'casts his net' shows physical labour. Costume should reflect this.
What does the line 'Don't deprive my children of me!' reveal about the Fisherman's character and values?
It reveals he is a devoted father and family man. Even facing death, his concern is for his children rather than himself — showing selflessness, love, and moral goodness.
Who or what might the Fisherman allegorically represent, and why?
The Fisherman represents ordinary, powerless people — the poor, the working class, or anyone who does the right thing and expects fair treatment from those with power. Evidence: his poverty, prayer, and moral goodness.
Name TWO different types of conventions you can find in a drama script and explain the difference between them.
Stage directions (physical action instructions), delivery instructions (how to speak a line), and props (physical objects). Accept any two with a clear distinction.
Where would you place a pause in this extract and why? Use a quote to support your choice.
Students should identify a dramatically effective moment (e.g. before 'The FISHERMAN thinks'), quote the text, and explain the dramatic effect (tension, audience suspense, character realisation). Accept well-reasoned responses.
How does King Shahrayar's costume and role as an observer on stage add meaning to the scene?
His presence watching the Fisherman's torment (stage direction: 'KING SHAHRAYAR enjoys seeing the FISHERMAN tormented') adds a layer of voyeuristic power. His costume would likely contrast the Fisherman's rags — emphasising the power imbalance.
The Demon says he waited two hundred years promising treasure, then changed to promising death. What does this shift reveal about his character?
The Demon is vengeful and morally inconsistent. He began with gratitude but replaced it with rage and self-pity. This reveals a character who lets resentment override justice and fairness.
Who or what might the Demon allegorically represent? Use evidence from the extract.
The Demon represents corrupt authority or institutions that begin with good intentions but become self-serving and cruel. Evidence: 'I said I would shower them with treasure... but I raged' — a leader who abandons promises.
How does the playwright use the convention of song in this extract, and what effect does it create?
The Fisherman sings while casting his net — 'I cast my net / Into the sea'. This breaks from spoken dialogue to create a lyrical, ritual quality, showing the repetition of his daily toil and his hope.
A column of smoke rises from the bottle to reveal the Second Demon. How might a director stage this moment and what effect would it create?
Accept creative responses: dry ice/smoke machine, lighting change, actor rising slowly from behind a prop. Should explain effect — surprise, threat, supernatural atmosphere, audience shock.
What does the Demon's line 'Rejoice and be glad! For soon, you will be dead!' reveal about his character? What choices would an actor need to make to deliver this line?
The Demon is cruel and enjoys power over the Fisherman. The actor might deliver it with mock cheerfulness, loud projection, or sudden menace. The contrast between 'rejoice' and death creates dark irony.
'If you destroy me, God will destroy you.' What does this line reveal about the Fisherman's worldview and how does it connect to the ethical concerns of the play?
It reveals the Fisherman believes in divine justice and moral reciprocity — that good and evil are ultimately rewarded accordingly. Ethically, the play suggests that gratitude and fairness are moral duties, not choices.
The Fisherman tricks the Demon back into the bottle. What is the allegorical message of this ending and what does it suggest about power?
The ending suggests the powerless can overcome corrupt authority through intelligence, courage, and moral clarity — not brute strength. The allegorical message is that ingenuity and integrity are more powerful than force or intimidation.