• Choose a play from this time period. It can be one from the anthology that we didn't read, or a different one. If you pick one from outside the anthology, you must get it approved by me, and supply me with a copy if I don't already have one.
  
• Pick one thing about the play to analyze. For instance: put the play within its time period. What indications are given in the play that it was written in that time and in that place? Or: How does the play reflect the playwright's cultural surroundings? Or: How does it reflect theatrical practice of the time period? Is the playwright reflecting conventional wisdom, or writing against it? In other words, is the play indicative of prevailing sentiment, or is the playwright making a comment on society, trying to change something? Or: pick a symbol or prevalent theme and analyze the play for it scene by scene.



• Remember when you are writing that these plays had physical productions, the nature of which will undoubtedly contribute to your thought processes.



• I expect you to get historical information from at least two sources other than our anthology, but make sure that the analysis part of the paper is your own. Choose it before you start researching. I don't want to see a 6 page synopsis of a 300 page book dealing with the same issue.
  
• Give specifics. Go through the play in detail. Quote from the play. Relate to specific historical events, if possible. I'm looking for an in-depth analysis.
  
• For that reason, if you pick a play that is jam packed with cultural details, you may need to focus on one aspect of the play, or one aspect of the culture or theatre of the period. That's fine, as long as it's in-depth, and as long as you define your parameters at the beginning of the paper.
  
• All of the writing tips still apply. This should be just as well formatted as the first one.
• The papers are due the last day of class by 4:00 pm. Put it in my box or slide it under my door.

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