NOTE


A theme shows the personal values and experiences in a play. To understand the theme, always ask: what does the play or novel suggest about, e.g. love, revenge, death, forgiveness, respect, good versus evil, hope, family values, unity, etc?


Dialogue makes you think and feel


What plays or dramas do you enjoy? Do you like plays that make you laugh, cry or be scared? Plays and dramas entertain us, but they also make us feel something.


Explore themes


Every play or drama involves themes reflecting human values and personal experiences. The purpose and subject of a play will influence the themes of the play.


• A theme can be a general idea, e.g. “love” or “hope”. • A theme can also be a conflict between two general ideas like “love versus hate” or “peace versus torment”.


Practise antonyms


torment strong physical or mental pain, often caused deliberately by someone else


SUPPORT TASK: Plays often con- tain contrasting or opposite themes. Try to find antonyms for any of the themes you come up with in question 2.


Antonyms are words that are opposite in meaning.


1 Create a list of possible “themes” by matching each word in the left column to its antonym in the right column.


A light B good


C freedom D life


E honour F unity


vs vs vs vs vs vs


i captivity ii death iii evil


iv diversity/strife v darkness vi shame


2 Think of other conflicts that could be used as themes. Prepare to read


1 Before reading: Work as a class. Identify two themes that you think the play deals with.


2 While reading: Find more proof of these themes. Also see if you can notice other themes as you read.


50


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