Dramatic Analysis A method of narrative interpretation

What is Dramatic Analysis?  A method for the systematic examination of the effect on narrative perspective.  A method which relies on the use of the journalistic questions to categorize elements of the fabula:

What is Dramatic Analysis? Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

Formulating the Questions WHO are the characters of the fabula? WHAT are the events of the fabula? WHERE… WHEN… WHY… HOW…

Formulating the Questions WHO are the characters of the fabula? WHAT are the events of the fabula? WHERE do the events of the fabula take place? WHEN do the events of the fabula take place? WHY do the events of the fabula take place? HOW do the events of the fabula take place?

Let’s Try it on “Vacation”: One scene as I bow to pour her coffee: Three Indians in the scouring drouth huddle at a grave scooped in the gravel, lean to the wind as our train goes by. Someone is gone. There is dust on everything in Nevada. I pour the cream.

WHO?

WHAT?

WHERE? Note: For this question, we need to consider: The global geographical place (examples: China, the moon, or the ocean) The literal, local place, in both the specific sense, and in the general sense (examples: a kitchen, room 222, the boardwalk at Atlantic City, New Jersey)

WHERE?

WHEN? Note: For this question, we need to consider : When in historical time, if that is identifiable and relevant When the events in the fabula occur with regard to each other.

WHEN?

WHY? Note: For this question, we need to consider causes for all of the significant events in the piece.

WHY?

HOW? Note: For this question, we need to consider anything that might be relevant to describing the manner in which events happen. Pacing, motivation, and order are all potential avenues for exploration.

HOW? Note: For this question, we need to consider ADVERBS that describe the manner in which the characters of the fabula do and say the actions of the fabula. Examples: Quickly Happily Desperately Fearfully Wildly Objectively Viciously Helpfully

HOW?

Did you say DOUBLE Dramatic Analysis?  First Level: Uses the journalistic questions to analyze the events of the fabula.  Second Level: Uses the journalistic questions to analyze the character of the narrator:

Did you say DOUBLE Dramatic Analysis? Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? To Whom?

WHO? Is the narrator? Note: For this question, we need to consider anything that might be relevant to describing the person who is the narrator, including physical, intellectual, and emotional characteristics.

Is the narrator’s subject? Note: The answer to this question necessarily subsumes the facts from the first level of Dramatic Analysis; but now we must also consider his greater subjects: thematic issues and implied content. WHAT?

Is the narrator telling the story? Note: To answer this question, we need to consider both geographic place and specific local place, if we can determine them. WHERE?

Is the narrator telling the story? Note: To answer this question, we need to consider both when in absolute time and when in relation to the events of the story. WHEN?

Is the narrator telling the story? Note: To answer this question, we need to consider questions of chronology, style, tone, and technique. HOW?

Is the narrator telling the story? Note: To answer this question, we need to consider both the implied reader AND the narratee, if any. TO WHOM?

WHY? Is the narrator telling the story? Note: To answer this question, we need to consider both the immediate impetus for making him or her talk, AND his or her motivations. This is, of course, the crux of the matter!

WHY? Is the narrator telling the story? The Narrator’s purpose may or may not be the same as the Implied Author’s purpose. Understanding the former will help you understand the latter!

Let’s try it on “Vacation” Who? What? Where? When? How? To Whom? Why?

Carolyn P. Henly Meadowbrook High School 4901 Cogbill Rd. Richmond, VA

The End