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The Critical Essay
Quick questions on Critical essay on drama and prose: genre terminology - SQA National 5 English
6short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is drama?Show answer
For a drama essay, use drama terminology: dialogue, stage directions, characterisation, conflict, dramatic irony, climax and structure. The strongest answers treat the play as something performed, commenting on how staging, a stage direction or the delivery of a line affects the audience, not just the words on the page. Choose questions about character, relationship, conflict or theme that your play genuinely explores.
What is prose?Show answer
For a prose essay, use prose terminology: narrative voice (point of view), characterisation, setting, structure, word choice and imagery. Analyse how the writer uses these to create character, mood, theme or meaning, and link each point to the question. The most common prose pitfall is retelling the plot, so keep every paragraph on technique and the question.
What are choose a question that fits?Show answer
For both genres, the choice of question matters. Read all the questions in your chosen genre, underline the key words, and pick the one your text most genuinely answers. A forced choice makes the essay strain; a good fit lets your analysis flow and stay relevant.
What is q1?Show answer
Name four pieces of drama terminology you could use in a drama essay. [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Why is retelling the plot a particular danger in a prose essay? [1 mark]
What is q3?Show answer
Why does the choice of question matter so much? [2 marks]
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