Exploring character through structural metaphor : a guide for actors and directors / John Gribas and Angeline Underwoood.

Introduction; Section I: About Metaphors; Chapter One: How We Usually Understand Metaphor; Chapter Two: Metaphor as a Way of Thinking; Chapter Three: Structural Metaphor; Section II: Metaphor as a Tool for Character Analysis; Chapter Four: A Brief Look at Character Analysis Techniques; Chapter Five: Using Structural Metaphor for Character Analysis; Section III: Applying the Method; Chapter Six: What I Could Have Done as Director of The Zoo Story; Chapter Seven: What I Did as Director of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike; Conclusion

Exploring Character Through Structural Metaphor will help performers discover new and valuable insights into the characters they play. Grounded in a contemporary approach to understanding and applying the power of metaphor, it offers a practical guide for both actors and directors. This book introduces the idea of metaphor as a way of thinking rather than simply as clever comparison or figurative language. It demonstrates limitations of ways metaphor has traditionally been used in character development and presents a method for applying structural metaphor to discover rich, in-depth character insights. For directors, the model can serve as an option for guiding character analysis that is less individualistic and actor-specific and more wholistic and cast-inclusive, promoting stronger overall performance unity and production cohesion. In addition to offering a clear, followable guide for character analysis, the authors draw on personal experience to vividly demonstrate how applying this method for character analysis could impact performance and production. This book will be a useful addition to an actor's or director's set of character development resources.