Drama

Use a combo of setting, stage direction, and dialogue to tell Drama Plays Use a combo of setting, stage direction, and dialogue to tell

Tragedy

characters experience reversals of fortune usually for the worse. Catastrophe and suffering especially the protagonist Usually contains lots of death

Comedy

characters experience reversals of fortune usually for the better Works out happily in the end. May be romantic tone of tolerance and geniality Satiric works-a darker vision of human nature; ridicules human folly

Tragicomedy

Does not adhere strictly to the structure of tragedy. Serious play with qualities of comedy. Arouses thought with laughter.

Farce

A light dramatic work Highly improbable plot situations Exaggerated characters Slapstick events the situation provides the humor rather than clever plot or absurd characters

Dramatic Irony

See the word drama inside Dramatic Irony? Happens when the reader or audience knows more than the characters know. EX: You can see the ax murder walking into the bathroom where the girl is showering, but she doesn’t know he’s there yet.

Dialogue

Easy to recognize in a play. Usually the name of the character followed by something and then what is said. For example: FOXLOVE: And should you refuse to marry him? ROMEO It’s easy for someone to joke about scars if they’ve never been cut.

Stage direction

Helps with understanding actions that can’t be inferred Directions written for a specific element to happen including entrances and movements Descriptions about setting and characters such as important info needed to play the character Helps with understanding actions that can’t be inferred Different font, parenthesis, or spaced away from current dialogue For the actor, not the audience. Example: ROMEO It’s easy for someone to joke about scars if they’ve never been cut. JULIET enters on the balcony. But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

Stage left-right side of the stage Stage right-left side of the stage Stage center-center of the stage Upstage-back of the stage Downstage-front of the stage Off stage-waiting just off the stage

Monologue

A lengthy speech By one character Can be done when alone or with others on stage Either spoken to self, audience, or another character. Helps with motive, attitude, and tone

Soliloquy

Speech to the audience Said while alone on stage Generally expresses inner thoughts Consists of relatively brief break in the action Helps with motive, attitude, and tone

Aside

Brief speech Direct address to the audience Done while other characters are done on stage Only the audience knows the information Helps with motive, attitude, and tone

Other Elements

Scenery: Curtains, backgrounds, platforms Used to help create the environment (setting) of the play Props Items outside of clothing articles and scenery Can be used to help create setting or characterization Costumes Clothing items worn by actors Can depend on the direction the director has in mind