Many characters are not developed as fully as the principle characters. These minor characters often exhibit particular traits with which we, the audience, are familiar e.g. the handsome prince, the jealous husband etc.
Ask students to identify stock character types in general then ask them to identify stock characters in the play that they are studying. Explain why they are stock characters. Allocate 'stock character types' to small groups- ask them to create a mind map, poster or list of the kind of things that we expect of these stock types. Talk about where else we see such characters (e.g. pantomime) What is their role in the play?
Now ask students to break the conventions that we associate with these stock characters. Choose one stock character from the play and write their story but it must have a twist so that they are no longer stock. This is an opportunity to work on characterisation.
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