2. Explore Your Play - ENG 102 - The Tempest and Trifles - SCC Research Guides at Spartanburg Community College

2. Explore Your Topic

After thoroughly examining your assignment, now it's time to look for some initial background or starting information on your play. If you are doing research on Trifles, click the link for Drama for Students. If you are doing research on The Tempest, click on the link for Shakespeare for Students.

Drama for Students
Call Number: E-Book, Use the 'search within' tool to find information about specific poems in this resource.
Publication Date: 2020
Shakespeare for Students
ISBN: 9781414412559
Publication Date: 2007-08-06
Shakespeare for Students is a great place to start! Learn more about Shakespeare's plays, characters, themes, styles, settings, symbols and more! This source also contains several literary criticism essays.

Analyze Your Play

The Facts on File Guide to Writing a Literary Essay by Infobase Learning
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 9781438177175
Publication Date: 2017-05-01
The Facts of File Guide to Writing a Literary Essay is an excellent resource to use to learn a little more about how to write literary essays on themes, characters, symbolism, imagery, historical context, and more.

Questions to Ask Yourself

When and where did the play take place? (place and time)

What is the atmosphere? (historical / sociological)

How is the play told? (narrative / point of view)

What language is used? (style, tone, and irony)

Who are the main characters? (protagonist / antagonist / others)

Are there symbols used? (symbols)

How does the plot help the reader understand the theme?

What is the dramatic moment? What is the conflict?

What is the moment of climax? (turning point / illumination / understanding)

How does the play end? (resolution)