Pivotal Lines in Shakespeare and Others: Finding the Heart of the Play

Sidney Homan defines a pivotal line as "a moment in the script that serves as a pathway into the larger play...a magnet to which the rest of the play, scenes before and after, adheres." He offers his personal choices of such lines in five plays by Shakespeare and works by Beckett, Brecht, Pinter, Shepard, and Stoppard, pairing a Shakespearean play with one by a modern playwright as mirrors for each other. This volume is particularly useful for academics and students in aiding their own discovery of a pivotal line or moment in the experience of reading, watching, or performing in a play.

Format: Hardback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 29 June 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Sidney Homan, a renowned literary scholar, defines a pivotal line as a crucial moment in a script that acts as a gateway into the broader play, drawing the audience's attention and anchoring the subsequent scenes. In his insightful book, "Pivotal Lines: Moments of Significance in Five Plays by Shakespeare and Modern Drama," Homan presents his personal selections of such lines from five plays by Shakespeare and works by renowned playwrights
Sidney Homan, a renowned literary scholar, defines a pivotal line as a crucial moment in a script that acts as a gateway into the broader play, drawing the audience's attention and anchoring the subsequent scenes. In his insightful book, "Pivotal Lines: Moments of Significance in Five Plays by Shakespeare and Modern Drama," Homan presents his personal selections of such lines from five plays by Shakespeare and works by renowned playwrights such as Beckett, Brecht, Pinter, Shepard, and Stoppard. Drawing on his extensive experience as an actor and director on the stage and as a teacher and scholar in the classroom, Homan pairs a Shakespearean play with one from a modern playwright, using them as mirrors to reflect and explore the themes and complexities of each play. One reviewer describes his approach as "ground-breaking," while another praises his "valuable experience with the particular plays he has chosen," allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of these iconic texts. This book is particularly valuable for academics and students alike, as it provides a comprehensive guide to discovering pivotal lines and moments in the experience of reading, watching, or performing in a play.

Weight: 580g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032348629