San Jose State University Annna in The Tropics Easy

read anna in the tropics

1. Time

In what year and season does the action occur? Can the

passage of time during the play be determined? The time

between the scenes and acts? The hour of day for each scene?

Each act? What features of time suggest the mise-en-scene? How

could the mise-en-scene contribute to the effectiveness of these

features?

1. Place.

In what country, region, or city does the action occur? Are

any geographical features described? In what specific locale does

the action occur? What is the specific location for each scene,

including the ground plan and other architectural features if

possible? What features of place suggest the mise-en-scene? How

could the mise-en-scene contribute to the effectiveness of these

features?

1. Society

. What are the family relationships? What are the friend-

ships and love relationships? What occupational groups are

depicted? What social ranks are represented? What are the social

standards, the behavior expectations? Are they spoken about or

implied? Are they enforced openly or indirectly? What social

group controls the social standards? What are the rewards for

conformity? What are the penalties for violating social stan-

dards? What features of society suggest the mise-en-scene? How

could the mise-en-scene contribute to the effectiveness of these

features?

1. Economics

. What is the general economic system in the play? Any

specific examples of business activities or transactions? Does

money exercise any control over the characters? Who controls

the economic circumstances? How do they exert control? What

are the rewards for economic success? The penalties for violating

the economic standards? What features of economics suggest the

mise-en–scene? How could the mise-en-scene contribute to the

effectiveness of these features?

1. Politics and Law.

What is the system of government that serves as

the background for the play? Any specific examples of political or

legal activities, actions, or ceremonies? Do politics or law exercise

any control over the characters? Who controls the political and

legal circumstances in the play? How do they exert control? What

are the rewards for political and legal obedience? The penalties for

violating the political and legal standards? What features of politics

and law suggest the mise-en-scene? How could the mise-en-scene

contribute to the effectiveness of these features?

1. Learning and the Arts.

What is the general level of culture and

artistic taste in the characters? Any examples of intellectual or

creative activities? Any characters more or less educated or cre-

ative than others? Does intellect or culture exercise any control

over the characters? Who controls the intellectual and artistic cir-

cumstances in the play? How do they exert their control? What

are the rewards for intellectual and creative activity? What are the

penalties for violating intellectual and artistic standards? What

features of learning and the arts suggest the mise-en-scene? How

could the mise-en-scene contribute to the effectiveness of these

features?

1. Spirituality

. What is the accepted code of religious or spiritual

belief? Any examples of religious or spiritual activities or cere-

monies? Does spirituality exercise any control over the charac-

ters? Who controls the spiritual circumstances in the play? How

do they exert control? What are the rewards for spiritual con-

formity? What are the penalties for violating the spiritual stan-

dards? What features of spirituality suggest the mise-en-scene?

How could the mise-en-scene contribute to the effectiveness of

these features?

1. The World of the Play

. Describe the special world of the play, the

closed system, the distinctive universe created by the collective

given circumstances. How does the world of the play influence the

conduct and attitude of characters in the play? What are the

different points of view expressed by the characters toward their

world? How does the world of the play suggest the mise-en-scene?

How could the mise-en-scene contribute to the effective illustra-

tion of the world of the play?