In the same way that a painter uses shape, color, perspective, and other aspects of visual art to create a painting, a playwright uses plot, character, setting and staging, dialogue, and theme to create artistic effect in drama. These aspects of drama are known as the formal elements. An understanding of the formal elements will enhance the reader’s appreciation of any play, as well as his or her ability to share perceptions with others.

While the list of formal elements encourages us to divide a play into parts, in the play itself these elements blend to create a whole. At some level, or perhaps in the first reading of a piece, readers should read without applying these divisions in order to experience the play's unique effect. Nevertheless, knowledge of the formal elements is necessary for most critical discussions of drama. These elements provide a basic vocabulary and set of critical tools that can be used in conjunction with many other critical approaches.

It is also important to consider the play in performance. Dramatic works are meant to be performed, and through a play’s performance the director and actors can achieve a broad range of effects to encourage particular interpretations of the work. For example, the actor playing the County Attorney could speak the lines “No, Mrs. Peters doesn't need supervising. For that matter, a sheriff's wife is married to the law. Ever think of it that way, Mrs. Peters?” with a heavy warning in his voice (suggesting he may know she’s hiding something). The actor could also deliver these lines with a dismissive effect (suggesting Mrs. Peters is only an extension of her husband, who represents the law).