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Blocking

Performance
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Planned movement and positioning during a performance. It gives physical shape to a poem’s changing ideas or emotions.

Detailed Definition
Blocking is the arrangement of a performer’s movements, turns, stops, and positions on a stage or reading area. In poetry, it can mark shifts in speaker, time, setting, or emotional pressure without requiring elaborate acting. Stepping forward may heighten a declaration, while moving aside can suggest distance or withdrawal. Effective blocking remains purposeful and supports the poem’s language rather than distracting from its rhythm and imagery.
Example
Example in poetry:
For a poem that moves from childhood to adulthood, a performer can begin stage left and cross to stage right at the turning point; In a dialogue poem, the reader can face one side of the room for one speaker and the other side for the second speaker; A poet can step closer to the microphone for a whispered line, then step back before a shouted refrain; Planned stillness after a major image can be effective blocking because it lets the audience absorb the line
Additional Notes
Blocking should serve meaning, not distract from it. Rehearse movements for transitions, shifts in speaker, or moments when an image needs physical emphasis.
Also Known As
Staging Stage Movement
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