Name: Christian A. González Date: Oct.

25,
2023

STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS OF DRAMA

The Crucible: Act I

Arthur Miller

Because plays are usually written to be performed and not read, they contain
text structures not found in other types of fiction. Understanding the following
structural elements of a play will help you understand the play as you read it:
• Dialogue is the actors' lines—the words they speak in the play.
Dialogue reveals character and conflict and moves the story forward.
• Stage directions specify all elements of the play that are not spoken
lines. These elements are given in italics (often within parentheses) and
include:
• How characters position themselves on the stage and actions they take
• Gestures and attitudes of the characters, such as anger or joy
• Directions for costumes, lighting, sets, props, and other items
• Dramatic exposition provides context for the characters, setting, and
conflict of the drama. These are commentaries inserted by the
playwright.

DIRECTIONS: Fill in the chart. Find an example of each structural element.

Refer to Act I of The Crucible.

Structural Element Line or page Example and Specific Function

number

Dialogue Page 10 "ABIGAIL: I know how you clutched my

back behind your house and sweated like a
stallion whenever I came near!" - This
dialogue reveals the tension between Abigail
and John Proctor and foreshadows their past
relationship.

Stage direction: set
description
Page 3 "The room is spare, even cold." - This stage
direction provides a description of the setting,
which sets the tone for the scene and gives
insight into the austere atmosphere of the
room.

Stage direction: Page 4 "Proctor goes to the cupboard and takes a

character action small paper from it. Abigail watches,
horrified." - This stage direction shows John
Proctor's action of taking a paper and
Abigail's reaction, building tension in the

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 scene.

Stage direction: Page 17 "Hale takes her gently by the hand." - This
character attitude stage direction conveys Reverend Hale's
attitude of gentleness, indicating his
compassionate and caring nature.

Dramatic exposition Page 8 "PARRIS: Now then, in the midst of such

disruption, my own household is discovered
to be the very center of some obscene
practice." - This line provides exposition by
revealing that Reverend Parris's household is
at the center of a scandalous event, setting up
the central conflict of the play.

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