Read a play
1 While reading: Pause to check that you have understood.
Scene1 Setting
Dialogue Conflict
Mood
Stage directions
Characters
Grandmother Maloko sits inside her house. She is busy threading some beads together. Gogo: This rain has taken everything away from us – crops, animals, trees and even some houses. Nothing is left. (She sighs and shakes her head.) Lindi: We have this house, Gogo. You built it as strong as a mountain! Gogo: (She looks out of the window excitedly and points). Look! A dove! Just like the one that Noah sent out from the ark to see if the floodwaters had gone down. Run Lindi! Get some food for it. Lindi: (Scatters the corn and they watch the bird eat). It is hungry, Gogo. Gogo: I think it is a sign that this rain will stop. We must get ready to make the journey to Durban to sell our beadwork. Without crops this year, it is our only chance to make a living.
Lindi: I think the people at the beachfront will be very happy to buy your beautiful key rings and necklaces. You are so clever Gogo.
After reading: Discuss these questions.
2 Describe the setting, including the props and weather. 3 a How are the characters related? b
Use two adjectives to describe each character. Find a sentence in the play to support each adjective.
4 Explain how the sad mood is created by: a The characters’ body language b The setting (include the weather)
5 Describe the mood at the end of this scene. In what way has the mood changed?
6 Scene 1 establishes the conflict that the characters face. From the clues, describe the conflict (what problem do the characters face? How do they plan to solve it?).
7 Scene 1 gives an idea of the plot (how the story will unfold). Predict the events to follow.
Set the scene by introducing
• Setting (includes props, weather and music)
• Characters
(includes costumes, dialogue, body language/stage directions)
• Tone/mood • Conflict (the problem)
• Plot (the storyline) 47
stage directions the instructions in brackets
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