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Research a Play (or Playwright)

Drama Research Guide > Research a Play

This page assumes that you have already found and read the play or monologue. Researching the play helps you further identify major ideas, concepts, themes, metaphors, dramatic images, visual ideas, etc.

I. Find books about your play or playwright.

II. Find literary biography and criticism about your play. Also find synopses and digests.

III. Find scholarly journal articles about the play or playwright.

IV. Find scholarly dissertations about the play or playwright.

V. Find newspaper reviews (at time of play, and more modern).

VI. If appropriate, look up historical personalities, fictional characters, or literary allusions.

VII. Consult histories/chronologies to place your play in social/cultural/political context.

VIII. Wrapping it up: Citing Resources and Copyright (general info)

IX. Need Assistance? Contact a reference librarian:

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This page was found at http://www.lib.uconn.edu/music/plays_research.html