A. Date of play's composition
B. Date of play's action -- period in which it is to be set
C. The present time -- what relevance does play have to our
audience?
II.
Geographical locations:
A. Specific place
B. Locale
III.
A. Artistic Climate of Time
B. Religious Climate of Time
C. Political Climate of Time
IV.
Playwright's
commentary on his or her own time
INTERNAL RESEARCH
I.
Directions
given by playwright
A. Factual descriptions
B. Poetic descriptions
C. Stage directions in acting editions of plays
II.
Direct
and indirect references by characters in the play about their
environment and about each other.
