Deus ex ma·chi·na ( ks mä k -n, -nä, m k -n ) n. 1. In Greek and Roman drama, a god lowered by stage machinery to resolve a plot or extricate the protagonist.

Deus ex ma·chi·naDeus ex ma·chi·na  ( ks mä k -n , -nä , m k -  ( ks mä k -n , -nä , m k -n ) n ) n.n.

• 1. 1. In Greek and Roman drama, a god In Greek and Roman drama, a god lowered by stage machinery to resolve a lowered by stage machinery to resolve a plot or extricate the protagonist from a plot or extricate the protagonist from a difficult situation.difficult situation.

• 2. 2. An unexpected, artificial, or improbable An unexpected, artificial, or improbable character, device, or event introduced character, device, or event introduced suddenly in a work of fiction or drama to suddenly in a work of fiction or drama to resolve a situation or untangle a plot.resolve a situation or untangle a plot.

• 3. 3. A person or event that provides a sudden A person or event that provides a sudden and unexpected solution to a difficultyand unexpected solution to a difficulty..

Dramatic Significance:Dramatic Significance:A close reading ofA close reading of

theatrical excerptstheatrical excerpts

““Dramatic Dramatic Significance” refers Significance” refers to the function and to the function and importance of a importance of a scene, character, scene, character, incident, and incident, and speech (dialogue, speech (dialogue, soliloquy, or aside)soliloquy, or aside)

Determining Dramatic SignificanceDetermining Dramatic Significance

Does the quotation:Does the quotation:

1. Advance the plot:1. Advance the plot:- Plot = series of related events that Plot = series of related events that

make up a story. make up a story. - Advancing plot = because of this, Advancing plot = because of this,

something else will happensomething else will happen

2. Establish a conflict: 2. Establish a conflict: - IInternal nternal –– character has internal character has internal

struggle concerning emotion & struggle concerning emotion & decisiondecision

- EExternal xternal –– two or more characters two or more characters have a strugglehave a struggle

- External External –– person vs. nature or person vs. nature or person vs. societyperson vs. society

3. Illustrate a literary device: 3. Illustrate a literary device: - foreshadowing foreshadowing - irony: dramatic, verbal, situationalirony: dramatic, verbal, situational- imageryimagery- atmosphere/moodatmosphere/mood- figurative language: simile, metaphor, figurative language: simile, metaphor,

hyperbole, alliteration, personification, hyperbole, alliteration, personification, onomatopoeiaonomatopoeia

4. Reveal characterization:4. Reveal characterization:- Show us a significant personality trait Show us a significant personality trait

of a certain character or show of a certain character or show character developmentcharacter development- TThrough actions and speech of hrough actions and speech of

character (direct)character (direct)- Through actions and speech of other Through actions and speech of other

characters (indirect)characters (indirect)

5. Illustrate a theme5. Illustrate a theme- There can be more than one theme There can be more than one theme

in a single workin a single work- Can be illustrated through actions Can be illustrated through actions

and speech of characters,“lessons and speech of characters,“lessons learned”, and action & eventslearned”, and action & events

- Look for Look for repetitionrepetition

6. Provide background information6. Provide background information- history of storyhistory of story

7. Create or withdraw pathos 7. Create or withdraw pathos (pity/compassion) in the viewer/reader(pity/compassion) in the viewer/reader

8. Establish or develop relationships 8. Establish or develop relationships between charactersbetween characters

When Citing Dramatic Significance…When Citing Dramatic Significance…

You must include the following:You must include the following:

1.1. The speaker;The speaker;

2.2. To whom the speaker is addressing;To whom the speaker is addressing;

3.3. Its meaning, or what is being said, Its meaning, or what is being said, in your own words;in your own words;

4.4. And And most importantlymost importantly, its , its significance to the play as a whole.significance to the play as a whole.

1.1. The speaker;The speaker;

2.2. To whom the speaker is addressing;To whom the speaker is addressing;

3.3. Its meaning, or what is being said, Its meaning, or what is being said, in your own words;in your own words;

4.4. And And most importantlymost importantly, its , its significance to the play as a whole.significance to the play as a whole.

Class Example:Class Example:

““What if this cursed hand Were thicker What if this cursed hand Were thicker than/itself with brother’s blood-than/itself with brother’s blood-

Is there not rain enough in the sweet Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens/ To wash it white as snow? “heavens/ To wash it white as snow? “

(Act III, scene iii)(Act III, scene iii)

1.1. The speaker;The speaker;

2.2. To whom the speaker is addressing;To whom the speaker is addressing;

3.3. Its meaning, or what is being said, Its meaning, or what is being said, in your own words;in your own words;

4. And And most importantlymost importantly, its , its significance to the play as a whole.significance to the play as a whole.

What might you have found?What might you have found?Significance to the play as a Significance to the play as a

whole.whole.King Claudius, soliloquy , Act III, scene King Claudius, soliloquy , Act III, scene

iii.iii.Establishes inner conflict of Claudius.Establishes inner conflict of Claudius.Reveals personality traits of Claudius-Reveals personality traits of Claudius-

guilty, determined, rationalizes deedsguilty, determined, rationalizes deeds Illustrates a themeIllustrates a theme: Corruption-”cursed : Corruption-”cursed

hand”hand”Complicates plot-Hamlet feels that he Complicates plot-Hamlet feels that he

can not kill Claudius as his spirit will go can not kill Claudius as his spirit will go to heaven.to heaven.

Remember!Remember!

The best answer is one that draws The best answer is one that draws evidence in. Refer specifically to the evidence in. Refer specifically to the passage that you are working with, passage that you are working with, but also try your best to bring in but also try your best to bring in specifics from other parts of the text. specifics from other parts of the text.

Also, create balance and symmetry in Also, create balance and symmetry in your answers. They should have an your answers. They should have an opening, relevant evidence, and a opening, relevant evidence, and a closing. closing.

Individually ….

Review Acts 3/4Find one quote for each of the listed

dramatic significance purposes.Using the steps we have reviewed in

class for dramatic significance discuss each quote.

Write down your answers and pass in.