Questions for reading log

A) The play-within-a play

1. What makes this play so funny? What made you laugh? What kind of humour dominates?
2. How do the protagonists act and react? What is real and what is fake? Describe the significance of the two levels.
3. Describe the difference between Birdboot’s behaviour off and on stage.
4. Describe the different attitudes of the two literary critics.
5. Write a short summary of level 1: The two critics
6. Write a short summary of level 2: The play
7. Write a short summary of the mixed levels.

B) What did the author have in mind? The characters in the play

1. Why did Stoppard use the play-within-the-play convention?
2. What kind of characterization does the author use? Describe the characters in the play. Show how they develop. Is there any individualization in a farce like this?
3. What are the author’s intentions?

C) Theatrical gimmicks and tricks

1. What are the most striking tricks and devices the author employs?
2. Why do they work so well in the context of what is presented?
3. Describe the function of the literary allusions.