How should I start my exam essay when answering a question about performing a character in a prescribed play?

Normally a question in this type of exam will ask something like: ‘Explain how you will perform/direct the role of… in three section of the play to convey…’. so a good structure would be as follows:

1. Opening sentence must state your answer to the question. E.g. 'When playing the role of …, I will convey … to the audience'.

2. Second part of opening paragraph – The WHY section. This is covered by describing the FUNCTION of the character in the play. There are three aspects to this:

1. Who the character is. E.g. Their main role and who they are related to.
2. What key relationships are most important to them and how does their character develop in the play? E.g. 'They deeply love… but their love in unrequited and so they fall into a deep depression leading them to …'.
3. What key themes evident in the play does the character clearly represent? E.g. 'Through their actions,… conveys the themes of …and … which are at the heart of the play.'

Following that you would move onto the main body of your essay.

You can pre-learn the bulk of this information so happy revising!