Plays rank among the most captivating and pleasurable forms of literature. They are literary creations designed not only to be read but also to be enacted on stage. Unlike other forms of literature, plays offer a visual and auditory experience. Consequently, a play does not solely cater to readers but rather to an audience who can both see and hear the performance.
Have you ever watched a play? Some of you may have visited the theater to watch theatrical performances, although many students are inclined towards reading books rather than attending plays.
Plays offer valuable opportunities to learn various facets of literature within the classroom. Students engage with plays due to their conversational nature, facilitating easy comprehension. They serve as effective vehicles for instructing literary devices, such as dramatic irony.
This is why paper 2 of STPM English Literature’s focus is on plays. Let’s explore what you will face in this paper together.
Required to Study Plays
Plays share numerous elements with novels, novellas, and narrative poems, but their storytelling relies heavily on character actions and dialogues rather than descriptive passages. Writers primarily communicate their intentions through character interactions and dialogue exchanges. Occasionally, the audience is invited to engage in specific aspects of the play, while at other times, actors may interact with the audience or employ dramatic irony to reveal information unknown to the characters.
Plays have several elements, including acts and scenes, characters, dialogue, plot, setting, and stage directions. The STPM paper 2 focuses on two plays which are:
1. William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night
2. Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun
Structure of Paper 2
In Paper 2, students must study the prescribed plays listed in the syllabus: Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare and A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. In section A, which focuses on Critical Appreciation, students must choose one question to answer on Twelfth Night or A Raisin in the Sun.
In sections B and C, the questions are mandatory. In Section B, students must answer the question on Twelfth Night, while in Section C, they must answer the question on A Raisin in the Sun. In total, students need to answer three questions, each worth 25 marks.
Students who have thoroughly studied the texts and are adequately prepared to answer literary essay techniques should be able to tackle the questions set in this paper.
Are you curious to find out about the details of Paper 1? Please check out Tips to Score A in STPM English Literature Paper 1 STPM
How to Study Plays?
Having confidence in your imagination is crucial to read a play effectively. A play serves as an invitation to envision characters, their physical presence, and how they speak within a defined setting. It goes beyond mere lines of dialogue or prose, incorporating visual imagery and skilful arrangements of words and movements that captivate the imagination and evoke emotions.
Each play constructs its unique world, regardless of its size, and this world is distinct from that particular play. Engaging with a play through reading is an active process that requires contemplation of the implications behind the words. Moreover, it entails delving deep into the textual space created by the play, examining the interplay between presence and absence, the interactions of bodies and voices, and the blending of various tones and expressions of existence.
When you read a play, it is essential to embrace an active approach. Instead of simply scanning the text, try to immerse yourself in it. Consider reading it aloud, even if only certain parts, and infuse it with appropriate intonation and gestures, even if they are tentative. Additionally, reflect on the spaces the text describes and brings to life.
Allow ample time to savor the text and pay attention to its intricate details. Every aspect holds significance. Give equal attention to the cues provided within the text, such as structural notes in the margins, character lists, and any foreword or preface accompanying the play. Approach each of these elements with equal care and consideration.
The stage directions are integral to the written text and require interpretation. They provide details about the characters' positions, emotional states, how their words should be spoken, and movements executed, and offer valuable insights into various aspects of the play.
Consider the stage set and examine any information provided about the physical space. What is explicitly mentioned, and what is left unsaid? How much room is there for imagination?
Reflect on how the stage space is utilized, organized, and divided. How are emotional states and power dynamics portrayed within the physical space and through speech and gestures?
Furthermore, explore how the passage of time is depicted. Does the play adhere to linear time, measured by the clock, or does it present a different kind of fragmented and discontinuous time – a subjective experience of time?
Click here to check out the STPM English Literature format!
Delving into the Plays
Twelfth Night
Twelfth Night, a play by William Shakespeare showcases the playwright's skill in employing clever and celebratory language. It explores themes of love, mistaken identity, and the social conventions of the time. The play's title refers to the festival held on the twelfth Night after Christmas, traditionally associated with revelry and topsy-turvy behavior.
The plot revolves around the character of Viola, a young woman who is shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria. Assuming her twin brother Sebastian has drowned, Viola disguises herself as a man named Cesario and enters the service of Duke Orsino. Orsino is in love with Lady Olivia, but she rejects his advances. Disguised as Cesario, Viola is sent to woo Olivia on Orsino's behalf. However, Olivia falls in love with Cesario, unaware of Viola's true identity.
The play introduces a comic subplot involving Olivia's uncle, Sir Toby Belch, and his companion Sir Andrew Aguecheek. They conspire to humiliate Olivia's steward, Malvolio, who is known for his puritanical behavior. They trick Malvolio into believing that Olivia loves him and entice him into ridiculous acts. This subplot adds an element of farce and physical comedy to the play.
Eventually, all the characters come together in a climactic scene where their true identities are revealed. Viola reveals her true self, and Olivia realises her mistake, falling in love with Sebastian instead.
Throughout the play, the language used becomes humourous and both comedic and romantic, depending on the situation and context. For example, the appearance of Feste elicits humour, while Olivia and Malvolio's presence brings irony to the scene. Shakespeare employs puns, metaphors, and an abundance of similes in prose and verse to capture the characters' moods and establish the play's tone.
Check out How to Ace the STPM English Literature Novel Questions?
A Raisin in the Sun
This play, authored by Lorraine Hansberry, centers around a black family who comes into some money. It explores the family's struggle for identity and addresses the challenges faced by African Americans during that era.
It is a groundbreaking play that explores themes of racial identity, socioeconomic struggle, and the American Dream
within the context of an African American family in the South Side of Chicago in the 1950s. Hansberry employs a naturalistic style, using realistic characters and setting to depict the lived experiences of black Americans during this era.
The story centers around the Younger family, who await a life insurance payout following the death of the family patriarch. This expected windfall catalyzes the central conflict, as each family member has a different idea of using the money to better their lives. Walter Lee, the son, wishes to invest in a liquor store, and his wife, Ruth, hopes for a better home. His mother, Lena, dreams of a house in a white neighbourhood; and his sister, Beneatha, aspires to medical school.
One of the key themes in the play is the American Dream. Each character's goal represents their interpretation of this Dream - economic success for Walter, a stable family for Ruth, racial integration for Lena, and self-fulfillment for Beneatha. The diverse dreams within one family are a microcosm of the wider black experience in America, showing the multifaceted struggle for recognition, equality, and success.
The family aspires to improve their lives and make progress. The play's title is derived from the lines of Langston Hughes' poem "Harlem," also known as "Dreams Deferred," where he expresses that dreams wither like raisins in the sun. The dreams of the Younger family fail to materialise and dry up like raisins in the sun.
Exploring the realm of English literature offers a vast and varied field encompassing a range of narrative techniques, storytelling elements, and prose influenced by diverse social and cultural perspectives. If you want to gain better insight, it is best to look for additional resources after reading a literary work.
Superprof, an online educational platform, can assist you in mastering STPM English literature by delving into the realms of drama, short stories, poetry, and novels. With Superprof, students all around Malaysia can enjoy an engaging and flexible learning experience. Begin your educational adventure by hiring a Superprof tutor today!
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