| This study makes an accounting of the "pieds" or syllables of Alexandrine verse in Racine's twelve plays. This accounting is developed into measures which describe the dramatic efficiency of characters. These measures show how characters use their speech and presence dramatically. Efficiency ratios indicate which characters are the leading promoters of the action, which ones need to be convinced to participate, and which ones come bearing urgent messages to redirect the action. "Chunking," or comparing the speech, presence, and efficiency of a character with his overall performance locates where characters use their stage time. Chains of action, based on presence, locate the joinings of different lines of action and show that they are assumed by the final set of characters. A combination measure of both speech and presence for each character emphasizes how much "energy" each character puts into the effort in order to participate or be represented in the final negotiations which allow the play to conclude. |
