Fascinating Fact:
Entrances and exits are cues for energy, a late entrance can interupt peace and flip the mood in a second.
In GCSE English, dramatic techniques help playwrights control pace, mood, and meaning. Stage directions, timing, movement, and speech choices guide the audience, reveal character, and build tension scene by scene.
Key Terms
- Blocking: Planned movement and positioning of actors on stage to show relationships and focus attention.
- Dramatic irony: When the audience knows something that a character does not, which creates tension or humor.
- Soliloquy: A speech delivered by a character alone on stage that shares private thoughts with the audience.
Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)
What dramatic techniques should I know for GCSE English?
Learn stage directions, blocking, proxemics, dramatic irony, foreshadowing, motifs, symbolism, asides, monologues and soliloquies, plus uses of lighting, sound, and carefully timed entrances.
What is the difference between a monologue and a soliloquy?
A monologue is a long speech to another character or audience. A soliloquy is spoken alone on stage and reveals private thoughts directly to the audience.
How do lighting and sound create mood in a play?
Lighting directs focus and signals time or atmosphere, while sound effects and music build tension, set pace, and underline emotions or key moments.
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