The present invention relates to a method of dividing a plane-parallel plate made of a brittle material into a plurality of individual plates having a specified edge length, in which break-off cuts are made along specified scored lines that form a lattice-like pattern by introducing thermally induced stresses by means of a laser beam, and in which, after making the break-off cuts along a first working direction, the resultant plate strips are spaced out at intervals in that a framed stretch film to which the plane-parallel plate is bonded is stretched by means of a vacuum device. The invention also relates to a device with a special clamping table for use in carrying out the method.