Studying a Set Text

Studying a set text

In drama you study one set text in depth, and your centre chooses it from a list of options. Whatever the text, the way you study it is the same. First you research its context: the social, cultural and historical world it came from, and the theatrical conventions of its time. Then you analyse how it is written: its genre, such as comedy or tragedy, its language, its structure of acts and scenes, and its form and style. You work out the role of each character, what they want and what they add to the play. Finally you use rehearsal ideas, trying scenes on your feet to explore character and style. This module teaches that approach so you can apply it to any set text.

Set-text words

Learn these before you study any text, and remember the same approach fits whatever text your centre picks.

Context against style

Studying a text means looking both at the world behind it and at how it is written and performed.

How to study a set text

Work a set text from several angles, not just the plot. Research the world it came from, since the context shapes why characters act as they do. Read closely for how it is built, its genre, language and structure. Track each character through the play, asking what they want and how they change. Then get it on its feet, using rehearsal to test ideas about character and style. Cover context, style, character and rehearsal, and you can study any text your centre chooses.

Match the term to what you study

Which are you studying?

A student researches the society, beliefs and events of the time when a play was written and first performed. Which part of studying the text is this?

• Its context.
• Its genre.
• A rehearsal idea.
• The staging design.

Studying a set text well

Select the TWO things that make a strong study of a set text.

• Researching the context the play came from
• Exploring characters through rehearsal
• Ignoring the characters entirely
• Reading only the final page

Texts not chosen

A centre chooses 1 set text from a list of 8 options. Subtract to find how many of the options are not chosen.

Order studying the text

Put the stages of studying a set text in order, earliest first.

• Read the whole text
• Research its context
• Analyse its style and characters
• Try rehearsal ideas to explore it

Complete the drama facts

The social, cultural and historical background of a play is its _____. The type of play, such as comedy or tragedy, is its _____. What a character wants and adds to the play is that character _____. Trying a scene out to explore character and style is _____.

Match the focus to its question

Spot the true set-text facts

Tap the TWO statements that are true about studying a set text.

• Context is the social and historical background of the play
• Rehearsal helps a student explore character and style
• Only the last scene needs to be studied
• The roles of characters do not matter

Study the text

Read each case and choose the best advice, with a reason.

• A student cannot understand why the characters in their set text behave so formally. What would help most?
• A student has read the text but cannot picture how a scene would work on stage. What should they try?
• A student writes only about the plot of the set text and nothing else. How should the study improve?

Explain how to study a set text

A student is about to begin studying their drama set text. Explain how they should approach it.

• Explain why researching the context matters
• Explain what to look for in the genre, language and structure
• Explain how to study the role of a character
• Explain how rehearsal helps explore the text
• Finish with why studying the whole text beats learning only the plot