Developed by Kenneth Burke, and sometimes called the Pentad because of its five key terms, Dramatism offers a simple yet effective way to generate ideas. It resembles the Journalist's Questions and, like them, can be applied to many topics.
The Five Key Terms of Dramatism
| Act: | What is happening? |
| Agent: | Who is doing it? |
| Agency: | What method is being used? |
| Purpose: | What is the goal, intent, objective? |
| Scene: | Where and when is it happening? |
These questions themselves are useful, but the true power of the Pentad comes when the key terms are combined to construct what Burke calls "ratios." These ratios yield a second layer of questions, often more interesting and penetrating than the first.
These ratios yield a second layer of questions, often more interesting and penetrating than the first.
| Act | Agent | Agency | Purpose | Scene | |
| Act | X | ||||
| Agent | X | ||||
| Agency | X | ||||
| Purpose | |||||
| Scene | X |
The ratios of the Pentad can be used to create a master/subquestion pattern:
| Purpose: | What was the purpose of Reconstruction? |
| Act/Purpose: | How did the Acts of Reconstruction relate to this purpose? |
| Agent/Purpose: | Who determined that this was necessary? |
| Agency/Purpose: | Was this an effective means of accomplishing the purpose? |
| Scene/Purpose: | Why was this goal considered important for the South at that time? |
Activity
1.11 Use the ratios of the Pentad to construct some master/subquestion combinations on a subject you're interested in writing about.
| Agency: | ______________? |
| Agency/Purpose: | ______________? |
| Agency/Act: | ______________? |
| Agency/Scene: | ______________? |
| Agency/Agent: | ______________? |
Try one from scratch:
| _____: | ______________? |
| _____ /_____ | ______________? |
| _____ /_____ | ______________? |
| _____ /_____ | ______________? |
| _____ /_____ | ______________? |
Remember, when using the Pentad or any other discovery aid, that the purpose is to help you open up and explore a subject. You want to find new insights and ideas. Don't let the mechanics of the system bog you down. Use the methods as springboards for your imagination.
