Recognize dramatic delivery

Supplied materials

• Paper and pencil, or a browser text area. All named people/events/records are fictional learning inputs.
• Worked case: Image: a lamp like a tiny sun, lighting the dark room. Endings: light/night/day/play. Direction: [whispers]. Role line: The only key is missing.
• Primary check: Image: Jo raced like the wind, reaching the door quickly. Endings: light/day/night/play. Direction: [speaks forcefully]. Role line: I will search the drawer.
• Original poem with ABAB rhyme: The model waited in the light, While footsteps crossed the floor all day. I checked its folded wings at night, And chose the words that I would say. Original scene: "Will the fold hold?" Lea asked. [Jo pauses.] "For this one trial," Jo replied. Jo did not claim it would last forever. The dialogue develops caution and the direction gives the actor timing.

Learn the idea

Stage directions can influence how an audience understands dialogue. Volume, pauses and laughter change delivery, but the actor should preserve the supplied words.

Read the direction and perform or describe that delivery. Explain how it affects the line’s meaning or mood.

Example to read or listen to: Image: a lamp like a tiny sun, lighting the dark room. Endings: light/night/day/play. Direction: [whispers]. Role line: The only key is missing. The answer is whisper quietly. The relevant input states: Direction: [whispers]. This fits whisper quietly. Stage directions can influence how an audience understands dialogue. Volume, pauses and laughter change delivery, but the actor should preserve the supplied words. Do not add new dialogue as if it were in the script.

1. Read or listen to the worked example. Say what the reading or writing task asks you to find. An adult can help with unfamiliar words.
2. Read the direction and perform or describe that delivery. Explain how it affects the line’s meaning or mood.
3. Check the worked solution: whisper quietly. The relevant input states: Direction: [whispers]. This fits whisper quietly. Stage directions can influence how an audience understands dialogue. Volume, pauses and laughter change delivery, but the actor should preserve the supplied words. Do not add new dialogue as if it were in the script.
4. Try the question and the practice questions. Point to the words that helped you choose before checking the feedback.

Check your reasoning

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Take it further

Optional extra practice: Write an original four-line poem with ABAB end rhyme and one comparison emphasizing a stated quality. Create a four-line scene about a missing key, include a decision and resolution, and add two different delivery directions. Practice this lesson’s skill as you complete the task. Use this idea to check your work: Stage directions can influence how an audience understands dialogue. Volume, pauses and laughter change delivery, but the actor should preserve the supplied words.

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