Line Analysis
The following information is based on writings from Evan Nossoff originally posted in 2001 on SacActors' website (an ensemble for working Sacramento, CA actors), and is reprinted here (with minor editing) with Mr. Nossoff's kind permission.
Line Analysis
The process outlined in this page integrates line analysis with memorization, making both easier. One school of thought advocates early line memorization. When actors have their lines down they can become more involved in the life of the play. Carrying around the script keeps them form looking around and making contact with their fellow actors.
The first task with a script is to break it down into its component parts so that you can begin to recognize the thoughts of the character. This sounds much more involved than it is.
To break down a script, make a diagonal slash mark to separate out each thought. For example:
The first task with a script is to break it down into its component parts so that you can begin to recognize the thoughts of the character. This sounds much more involved than it is.
To break down a script, make a diagonal slash mark to separate out each thought. For example:
To be or not to be. That is the question.
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This can be broken down in many ways. Don’t make this too much of a task, it’s just a first cut. As you develop more familiarity with the material, you will find yourself easily making adjustments.
To be / or not / to be. / That / is the question.
To be or / not to be. / That is / the question. To be or not / to be. / That is the question. |
Here’s a more extensive text marked up (from Galileo by Bertolt Brecht):
They used to hug the coasts / and then all of a sudden / they left the coasts / and spread over the oceans. / A new age was coming. / I was onto it / years ago. / I was a young man, / in Siena. / There was a group of mason / arguing. / They had to raise / a block of granite. / It was hot. / To help matters, / one of them / wanted to try / a new arrangement / of ropes. / After five minutes’ discussion, / out / went a method / which had been employed / for a thousand years. / The millennium of faith / is ended, / said I, / this is the millennium / of doubt. / And we are pulling out / of that contraption. / The sayings of the wise men / won’t wash / any more. / Everybody, / at last, / is getting nosy. / I predict / that in our time / astronomy will become / the gossip of the market place / and the sons of fishwives / will pack the schools.
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Now you try it – and see if you can logically break it a different points… sometimes you can… sometimes the author is so clear, the divisions are obvious.
They used to hug the coasts and then all of a sudden they left the coasts and spread over the oceans. A new age was coming. I was onto it years ago. I was a young man, in Siena. There was a group of mason arguing. They had to raise a block of granite. It was hot. To help matters, one of them wanted to try a new arrangement of ropes. After five minutes’ discussion, out went a method which had been employed for a thousand years. The millennium of faith is ended, said I, this is the millennium of doubt. And we are pulling out of that contraption. The sayings of the wise men won’t wash any more. Everybody, at last, is getting nosy. I predict / that in our time astronomy will become the gossip of the market place and the sons of fishwives will pack the schools.
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Some Additional Thoughts
Rhythm. As you can facility with breaking lines down, you’ll find yourself either discovering a natural rhythm of the writing or creating one. That’s a good thing.
Confusing Text. If a phrase or line bothers you, it is time for research, analysis, or consultation. One thing to look for is an action being taken that is not documented in the script or an object the phrase refers to such as the “We are pulling out of that contraption” in the piece above.
Discipline = Payoff. It takes discipline to break down the lines every time you do a new piece, but the payoff is that by doing so, you begin both your exploration of the script and your memorization.
Confusing Text. If a phrase or line bothers you, it is time for research, analysis, or consultation. One thing to look for is an action being taken that is not documented in the script or an object the phrase refers to such as the “We are pulling out of that contraption” in the piece above.
Discipline = Payoff. It takes discipline to break down the lines every time you do a new piece, but the payoff is that by doing so, you begin both your exploration of the script and your memorization.
More Info
Check out these other tips for helping you learn your lines:
- Line Memorization (applies your line break down efforts from above, to ease into memorization)
- The Inner Monologue
- Yes, "there's an app for that!"