Book III: Conflict, Chapters 8 - 10 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 8: Point of Attack

It should naturally be known by now that something in a character's life must be at stake, that he must be fighting for it. This is the attack, and in this chapter, the author focuses on when that attack should occur. He believes it must become the protagonist's problem at the very beginning of the play, and he gives examples of plays that have begun immediately with what is at stake for the protagonist.

The author conducts another question and answer session, where he imposes questions on himself to give information on subjects such as why a play must begin with the attack, how this gives the writer his best opportunity to get inside the characters. Also, he stresses that it is bad playwriting to create atmosphere and gather...