Elements Of Drama/Theatre

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

Tragedy A tragedy is a play that ends unhappily. Most classic Greek tragedies deal with serious, universal themes such as right and wrong justice and injustice life and death Tragedies pit human limitations against the larger forces of destiny.

Tragedy The protagonist of most classical tragedies is a tragic hero. This hero pride is noble and in many ways admirable has a tragic flaw, a personal failing that leads to a tragic end rebelliousness jealousy

Comedy A comedy is a play that ends happily. The plot usually centers on a romantic conflict. boy meets girl boy loses girl boy wins girl

Comedy The main characters in a comedy could be anyone: nobility townspeople servants

Comedy Comic complications always occur before the conflict is resolved. In most cases, the play ends with a wedding.

The Elements of Drama Elements of Drama: The elements of drama, by which dramatic works can be analyzed and evaluated, can be categorized into three major areas: literary elements, technical elements, and performance elements. literary elements technical elements performance elements

Literary Elements Plot: the series of events that take place in a play. There are 6 stages in a plot structure: Initial incident- the event that “gets the story going” Preliminary event whatever takes place BEFORE the action of the play that is directly related to the Play Rising action: a series of events following the initial incident and leading up to the dramatic climax. Climax: the turning point or high point of a story, when events can go either way Falling action: the series of events following the climax. Denouement or Conclusion : another term for the ending-it is the French word for “unraveling”).

Literary Elements Character: a person portrayed in a drama, novel, or other artistic piece. Exposition is the “who, when, where and what” part of the play. Story organization: beginning, middle, end Conflict: the internal or external struggle between opposing forces, ideas, or interests that creates dramatic tension. Suspense: a feeling of uncertainty as to the outcome, used to build interest and excitement on the part of the audience.

Literary Elements Theme: the basic idea of a play; the idea, point of view, or perception that binds together a work of art. Language: in drama, the particular manner of verbal expression, the diction or style of writing, or the speech or phrasing that suggests a class or profession or type of character. Style: the shaping of dramatic material, settings, or costumes in a deliberately nonrealistic manner.

Dialogue A conversation between characters in a literary work.                                      

Function of Dialogue Dialogue brings characters to life by revealing their personalities and by showing what they are thinking and feeling as they react to other characters.

Function of Monologues Serves the same purpose as narration in pieces of fiction helps move the plot forward can support or add depth to the conflict

Monologue A speech presented by a single character Purpose: most often to express their mental thoughts aloud sometimes also to directly address another character can be directed to the audience

Soliloquies A long speech delivered by a character who is alone onstage.

Function of Soliloquies A soliloquy typically reveals the private thoughts and emotions of the character.

Foil A character who provides a strong contrast to another character.

Function of Foil Characters A foil may emphasize another character’s distinctive traits or make a character look better by comparison.