Act •An act is a group of two or more scenes that form a major division in a play Scene •A scene is one part of the action, usually happening in a particular time and place •Cast of Characters: •A cast of characters is a list that describes who’s in the play and often how they are related to one another. Cast from The Crucible John Proctor Elizabeth Proctor Abigail Williams Reverend Parris Reverend Hale Judge Hathorne Dep. Gov. Danforth Mary Warren Tituba Sarah Osborne Martha Corey Thomas Putnam Ruth Putnam Mercy Lewis Rebecca Nurse Francis Nurse Giles Corey Sarah Good Susanna Walcott Setting: The setting of a play is where and when the play takes place. In a play, the setting is usually described in a note or stage directions at the beginning of the play and each scene. Example: The setting of the Crucible is Salem, Massachusetts in the year 1692. Stage Directions: Stage directions are printed in italics and are surrounded by parentheses They tell the actors and actresses how to speak, how to act, and what to do. Stage directions describe details of the setting and sounds effects Dialogue- Dialogue is the conversation between the characters in a play Monologue- A monologue, or soliloquy, is a speech given by one character who is alone on the stage. Dialogue Example: Parris, delighted: Mr. Hale! Oh! It’s good to see you again! Taking some books: My, they’re heavy!” Hale, setting down his books: They must be; they are weighted with authority. Page 34: Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York: Penguin Books, 2003. Plot: The plot of the play is the action, and it often revolves around a conflict Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution Exposition: Characters, Setting, and Conflict are introduced Rising Action: Conflict and suspense build Climax: Conflict reaches peak or turning point Falling Action: Suspense Lessens Resolution: Outcome of story decided