QUOTATION ANALYSIS
The speaker, the act, and scene will be given to you. To analyze the quote, you need to:
1. Identify who is listening.
2. Explain the circumstances under which the lines were spoken.
3. Explain the quote’s dramatic purpose. OR, explain why the quote is important:
Does it reveal character traits?
How does it move the plot forward?
Does it reveal a theme?
Does it create humour? (Comic Relief)
Does it develop conflict?
Example #1:
… O methinks, how slow
This old moon wanes! She lingers my desire,
Like to a step-dame or dowager
Long withering out a young man’s revenue.
Theseus, 1.1
1. Who is listening?
Hippolyta is listening.
2. What is happening in the play?
The play has just begun and Theseus is discussing his wedding day with Hippolyta.
3. Why is the dramatic purpose of this quote?
This quote reveals Theseus’ character. He is impatiently waiting for his wedding day. He complains that the moon is taking a long time to change, which means that he feels like the four days will take forever to pass until his wedding day.
Example #2:
Stand forth, Lysander. – And my gracious duke,
This man hath bewitched the bosom of my child. –
Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes,
And interchanged love tokens with my child.
Egeus, 1.1.
1. Who is listening?
Theseus, Hippolyta, Lysander, Hermia, and Demetrius are listening.
2. What is happening in the play?
Egeus has just arrived at the duke’s castle to complain about his daughter Hermia and how she won’t marry the man he has chosen for her, Demetrius.
3. Why is the dramatic purpose of this quote?
This quote develops plot. Because Egeus requires Hermia to marry Demetrius “or else” she and Lysander decide to run away to his aunt’s home outside of Athens.
OR ...
This quote develops conflict between Egeus and Lysander. Egeus is angry at Lysander because he believes Lysander has “tricked” Hermia into falling in love with him by giving her “rhymes” and “love tokens.”
The speaker, the act, and scene will be given to you. To analyze the quote, you need to:
1. Identify who is listening.
2. Explain the circumstances under which the lines were spoken.
3. Explain the quote’s dramatic purpose. OR, explain why the quote is important:
Does it reveal character traits?
How does it move the plot forward?
Does it reveal a theme?
Does it create humour? (Comic Relief)
Does it develop conflict?
Example #1:
… O methinks, how slow
This old moon wanes! She lingers my desire,
Like to a step-dame or dowager
Long withering out a young man’s revenue.
Theseus, 1.1
1. Who is listening?
Hippolyta is listening.
2. What is happening in the play?
The play has just begun and Theseus is discussing his wedding day with Hippolyta.
3. Why is the dramatic purpose of this quote?
This quote reveals Theseus’ character. He is impatiently waiting for his wedding day. He complains that the moon is taking a long time to change, which means that he feels like the four days will take forever to pass until his wedding day.
Example #2:
Stand forth, Lysander. – And my gracious duke,
This man hath bewitched the bosom of my child. –
Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes,
And interchanged love tokens with my child.
Egeus, 1.1.
1. Who is listening?
Theseus, Hippolyta, Lysander, Hermia, and Demetrius are listening.
2. What is happening in the play?
Egeus has just arrived at the duke’s castle to complain about his daughter Hermia and how she won’t marry the man he has chosen for her, Demetrius.
3. Why is the dramatic purpose of this quote?
This quote develops plot. Because Egeus requires Hermia to marry Demetrius “or else” she and Lysander decide to run away to his aunt’s home outside of Athens.
OR ...
This quote develops conflict between Egeus and Lysander. Egeus is angry at Lysander because he believes Lysander has “tricked” Hermia into falling in love with him by giving her “rhymes” and “love tokens.”