Shakespeare
Preparation of
performance text
After you locate and
print your text, identify as much subtext as you can. This is the most
important first stage of the assignment.
Subtext refers to all
the meanings not directly contained in the text.:
Specifically, subtext
contains all of the following:
·
Implied stage directions,
·
Character’s thoughts,
·
Feelings,
·
Motives (what is the character’s goal,
for the scene as a whole and each part,)
·
Tone of voice (for each speech and for
places where it changes,)
·
Movements,
·
Gestures.
Make your paraphrase
and subtext easy for us to identify by putting them in a different type face
from the text itself. For example, set your additions in bold face to make them
stand out from the characters’ lines in the text. Perhaps add a couple of hard returns between
speeches or in the middle of a speech where you add subtext notes.
