Darius Mullens

Dr. Merill
ENG107W-01
2 October, 2019
* As the paper is written, each paragraph may grow into multiple paragraphs in order to
separate ideas and to give proper attention to each.
I. Intro Paragraph​ (explaining ​Next to Normal​ and introducing how ​Poetics​ fits in)
A. Introduction to Poetics and the basic plot of ​Next to Normal
B. Thesis:​ Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey’s ​Next to Normal​ follows Aristotle’s ideas on
poetics by emphasizing thought and by adhering to the Unities of Time and Place.
II. First Body​ (Unity of Place)
A. The set was minimalistic, so there were no scene changes, but changes in location
were implied by dialogue/song.
B. Sources: ​Variety ​article, ​Next to Normal ​itself.
III. Second Body​ (Unity of Time)
A. The lineup of songs in Act I (“Gonna Be Good” - “Superboy and the Invisible
Girl”)
B. The lineup of songs in Act II (“Hey #2” - “I Am the One (Reprise)”
C. Sources: ​Poetics ​& ​Next to Normal​ itself
IV. Third Body​ (Thought)
A. Depression and how Kitt and Yorkey constructed the plot to get their message out
there.
B. Feedback and reviews.
C. Sources: Interview, Review, ​Next to Normal ​itself
V. Conclusion​ (connection to life)
A. Poetics ​in art
B. Poetics​ in life
C. Humanity. It’s all about the humanity.