Drama

A drama is a story enacted onstage for a live audience. What Is Drama?

Origins of Drama Origins of Drama The word drama comes from the Greek verb dran, which means “to do.” The word drama comes from the Greek verb dran, which means “to do.” The earliest known plays... The earliest known plays... were written around the fifth century B.C. were written around the fifth century B.C. produced for festivals to honor Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility produced for festivals to honor Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility

Like the plot of a story, the plot of a play involves characters who face a problem or conflict. Climax point of highest tension; action determines how the conflict will be resolved Resolution conflict is resolved; play ends Complications tension builds Exposition characters and conflict are introducedconflict Dramatic Structure

Conflict is a struggle or clash between opposing characters or forces. A conflict may develop... Conflict is a struggle or clash between opposing characters or forces. A conflict may develop...  between characters who want different things or the same thing  between a character and his or her circumstances  within a character who is torn by competing desires

When you read a play, remember that it is meant to be performed for an audience. Stage Directions Playwright describes setting and characters’ actions and manner. [Wyona is sitting on the couch. She sees Paul and jumps to her feet.] Wyona. [Angrily.] What do you want? Performance of a Play Performance Theater artists bring the playwright’s vision to life on the stage. Theater artists The audience responds to the play and shares the experience.

The characters’ speech may take any of the following forms. Dialogue: conversations of characters onstage Monologue: long speech given by one character to others Soliloquy: speech by a character alone onstage to himself or herself or to the audience Asides: remarks made to the audience or to one character; the other characters onstage do not hear an aside The Characters

Finally, a play needs an audience to: experience the performance understand the story respond to the characters The Audience

Plays and scripts are separated into chunks called Acts. (Think of a chapter in a book.)

Acts are numbered with capital Roman numerals: Act IV is the same as Act 4.

Acts may be broken into chunks called Scenes. Scenes are numbered with lower case Roman numerals: Act IV, scene ii = Act 4, scene 2

Stage directions: The words that tell readers and performers about the action, the sets, and the way in which the dialogue should be spoken. Protagonist: The character the play is centered upon. Antagonist: The character or problem/force that opposes the protagonist. Playwrite: A person who writes plays.

Dramatic Irony: The contrast between what the character thinks to be true and what the reader knows to be true. Malapropism: Misusing wrong words in such a way that they sound similar, but are very different, from the word intended.

Hubris: Too much pride or self- confidence. Catharsis: A purification after a release of tensions or reactions Comedy: Plays that are light in tone and usually have a happy ending.

Tragedy: Plays that usually involve serious subject matter and rarely have a happy ending. Farce: This play usually has exaggerated characters and situations, with mistaken identities, lots of physical comedy, and outrageous plot twists. Musical: This play is told not only through dialogue and acting, but through music and dance, too.

The End

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