How to Read a Play

Read any criticism or introduction included in the publication you are studying. They will suggest ideas and approaches to interpreting the play that you may find helpful later. Read them a second time when you've finished reading the play.

Find out the genre of the play; that is, whether it's a tragedy, a comedy, a romance or a satire. You will then know how the play will most likely end.

Determine how many acts the play has. That will give you clues about what should be happening in each part. Generally, a traditional play will set the scene, introduce a problem, follow that problem to its logical conclusion, reach the final conflict and then offer a resolution. This could happen in anywhere from one to five acts.

Write up a chart of characters and how they are related to one another, particularly if it is a play with representatives from several social strata: keep in mind who is a king and who is merely a minor duke.

Consult an encyclopedia for information on characters and events in historical plays.

Write short summaries of the action in the margins of your text; some plays depend on very intricate, twisted plots to reach their resolutions.

Imagine costumes, sets, noises and times of day/night as you read.

Read the most difficult passages aloud; it will help you decide what the character's tone and attitude is.