Learning Objective: To understand
HOW to write an exam style answer to
a B question in Romeo and Juliet?
What did we say was important
in helping the audience to
understand the actors
emotions?
How do actors show their meaning when
they are performing.
•Gestures
•Facial Expression
•Actions towards others
•Movement
•Positions with others
•Tone of voice
ROMEO
Is it even so? then I defy you, stars!
Thou know'st my lodging: get me ink and paper,
And hire post-horses; I will hence to-night.
BALTHASAR
I do beseech you, sir, have patience:
Your looks are pale and wild, and do import
Some misadventure.
WHAT do the characters feel?
ROMEO: Put not another sin upon my head,
By urging me to fury: O, be gone!
By heaven, I love thee better than myself;
For I come hither arm'd against myself:
Stay not, be gone; live, and hereafter say,
A madman's mercy bade thee run away.
PARIS
I do defy thy conjurations,
And apprehend thee for a felon here.
HOW will you get them to say it?
This is what the examiner said about the B question last year
Trait b) asks how a short portion of the extract (about 6 lines) should be
performed. To answer successfully, candidates must be prepared to
consider any of the following:actions, positioning, movement, voice,
gesture and facial expression and are prompted to do so on the question
paper. It is not helpful to consider other elements of production such as
lighting, scenery, props and costume because at the heart of this question
is theconsideration of how an actor would present the language.
Essentially-you need to understand
what is going on, how the
characters would feel, their
relationship to each other and then
explain HOW you would get the
actors to show that.
C GRADE answer;
•
Generally sound or sound understanding of
effectiveness of performance techniques
• Clear reference to the lines from the extract to
support response.
B GRADE answer;
Thorough understanding of effectiveness of
performance techniques.
• Sustained reference to the lines from the extract
to support response.
What the examiner gave this:
D
What the examiner said:
• Good understanding of the basic
emotions.
• Comments on some of the actions
• However, it is vague- it needs to be
more precise.
• It needs to talk about other characters
and give more context (ie she is
protection Juliet)
An Example answer A GRADE
What the examiner gave this:
B+/ AWhat the examiner said:
• Detailed response looking carfully at
how different lines might be delivered.
• Thorough in its reference to all the
different characters that are in the
scene.
• Thorough in the way it talks about the
variety of characters in the scene.
Writing your own Answer
Using your understanding of the extract explain how the
following lines from the extract might be performed.
• Give reasons for your answer
BALTHASAR [Aside.]
For all this same, I'll hide me hereabout:
His looks I fear, and his intents I doubt.
[Retires.]
ROMEO
Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death,
Gorged with the dearest morsel of the earth,
Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open,
And, in despite, I'll cram thee with more food!
How successful have I been?
Tick when you see:
• You have said how the character is
feeling.
• You have mentioned facial expression,
movement, gesture, tone, position.
• You have explained how certain,
important lines might be specifically
delivered.
• You have said how the ACTING shows
the EMOTION.
Then set a target- what do you need
to do for next time?