Dramatic techniques: teach me, tell me

Teaching notes

Give out sets of cards to pairs. Pairs take it in turns to turn over one card at a time. On their
turn, a student should describe the term and give reasons for its use or effect. Their partner
then earns a point if they can guess the term correctly. The student should then give an example
of the dramatic technique within the play they are studying to earn a point. They then swap, so
that the other student selects a card, and so on.

The winner is the student who has earned the most points by the end of the set time, or once
they have finished the set of cards. If they finish the set before the time is up, they should keep
going to add other examples from the play they are studying.

There is a differentiated version of the game to allow more able students to come up with their
own reasons or effects for using a particular technique.

© www.teachit.co.uk 2017 26058 Page 1 of 3

 Dramatic techniques: teach me, tell me

Aside/soliloquy Foreshadowing Stage directions

Definition: Definition: Definition:

When a character talks directly to themselves
(and the audience).
Reason used / effect:
To reveal the character’s private thoughts and
feelings to the audience and not to the other
characters in the play.
To indicate or give signs of something that will
happen later.
Reason used / effect:
To create tension about the possibility of
something happening and sometimes to
prepare the audience for a shocking event.
Prompt actors to move and tell the reader
what is happening on stage.
Reason used / effect:
They create drama on the stage and bring the
play alive.

Pathetic fallacy Dramatic irony Stichomythia

Definition: Definition: Definition:

Giving human emotions or characteristics to When the audience knows something that the Alternate single lines spoken quickly between
an inanimate object (such as the weather). characters do not. two characters (like a verbal battle).

Reason used / effect: Reason used / effect: Reason used / effect:

To match the weather with the mood of the To inform the audience without the character To show an argument between characters. Can
scene/character. knowing, allowing them to have a different also be used as a battle of wits.
interpretation of events.

Entrances Exits Timing

Definition: Definition: Definition:

When a character arrives on stage. When a character leaves the stage. The pace of the drama, or appropriate
moment when things happen.

Reason used / effect: Reason used / effect: Reason used / effect:

To include a character in a scene. To remove a character from the action. To create contrasts in a scene or disrupt what
we might expect to happen next.

© www.teachit.co.uk 2017 26058 Page 2 of 3

 Dramatic techniques: teach me, tell me

Aside/soliloquy Foreshadowing Stage directions

Definition: Definition: Definition:

When a character talks directly to themselves To indicate or give signs of something that will Prompt actors to move and tell the reader
(and the audience). happen later. what is happening on stage.

Reason used / effect: Reason used / effect: Reason used / effect:

Pathetic fallacy Dramatic irony Stichomythia

Definition: Definition: Definition:

Giving human emotions or characteristics to When the audience knows something that the Alternate single lines spoken quickly between
an inanimate object (such as the weather). characters do not. two characters (like a verbal battle).

Reason used / effect: Reason used / effect: Reason used / effect:

Entrances Exits Timing

Definition:
Definition: Definition:
The pace of the drama, or appropriate
When a character arrives on stage. When a character leaves the stage.
moment when things happen.

Reason used / effect: Reason used / effect: Reason used / effect:

© www.teachit.co.uk 2017 26058 Page 3 of 3