Literary And Dramatic Techniques Flashcards
(10 cards)
Why are stage directions important in A streetcar named desire?
Williams uses rich, poetic stage directions to convey mood, character psychology and symbolic meaning. They reflect Blanche’s mental state and contrast realism with expressionism.
What role does music/sound play in the play?
Music like the Varsouviana Polka signals Blanches trauma, while the Blue Piano expresses desire and tension. Sound bridges scenes and reflects emotional states.
What does light symbolise in the play?
Light represents truth and reality. Blanche avoids bright light to conceal her age and past. Her fear of light symbolises her fear of exposure and judgement.
What does Blanches bathing represent?
Bathing acts as an attempt at emotional and moral cleansing. It’s symbolic of her desire to wash away guilt and escape reality.
How does Williams use expressionism?
The play blends realism with expressionism - distorted music, lighting and symbolic props represent characters inner turmoil, especially Blanche’s mental decline.
In what ways is the play realistic? (Realism)
Streetcar reflects the real life post-war America: working-class struggles, domestic violence, mental health. Dialogue and setting are grounded in realism, especially in Stanleys world.
What is “plastic theatre”?
Coined by Williams, it uses props, sound, and staging to express emotional truths. For example, music and lighting show Blanches mental state beyond just words.
How is language used to show class and identity?
Stanley speaks in blunt, working-class vernacular while Blanche uses poetic, formal language. Their contrasting speech styles highlight social and cultural conflict.
How does dramatic irony function in the play?
The audience knows things characters don’t (e.g. Blanches past, Mitch’s discovery) creating tension and pathos. It builds sympathy for Blanches as her illusions unravel.
How does Williams use foreshadowing?
Early events hint at future tragedy - Stanley’s aggression, Blanches fragility, the streetcar named “desire” leading to “cemeteries” - all point to Blanches downfall.
