What is Drama? Drama is a form of literature acted out by performers. Performers work with the playwright, director, set and lighting designers to stage a show. A play consists of: Dialogue: where characters talk with each other Action: what characters do in the play Gesture: what the character shows through motion(s) and expression(s)

2 Basic Types of Drama Tragedy - a serious, solemn play based on an important social, personal, or religious issue. Comedy - a play that shows the humorous actions of characters when they try to solve social, personal, or religious problems.

Analyzing Drama How you react to a play will depend on: your individual perspective of the world your sense of humor you political attitudes your moral values Analysis begins by asking what factors about the play shaped your response.

Aspects of drama that help you to enjoy and interpret a play: staging structure characterization theme dramatic irony

Staging definition - The scenic design and props. These add meaning and historical context to what characters do and say in the drama. Some components of the setting are as follows: the orchestra, the performance and dancing area for actors and chorus, which was utilized by Greek theater to inform audiences of what happens "off stage." (i.e. no murders or suicides were shown; instead, a messenger would inform the characters of the news). lighting is used to show illusion of time, highlight an action, or emphasize an event or character. Lighting is more complicated today than it was in ancient times, because plays used to be shown only outside. costumes are used to portray age, class, profession or ethnic culture. blocking refers to the actors’ movements onstage during a performance.

Structure structure - The way a play is organized into sections. Most plays are divided into acts and scenes. A traditional play follows the structural pattern of a traditional short story or novel. It has an introduction (exposition), conflict, climax, and a resolution (denouement). Freytag’s Triangle In 1863, the German playwright Gustav Freytag laid out what has come to be known as Freytag's Triangle. Under Freytag's Triangle, the plot of a play consists of five parts or acts: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement or resolution/conclusion. Of course, this can be easily applied to short stories, fiction, and tv/film, but it is normally reserved for drama.

Characterization characterization - the way the actor portrays the character's qualities and faults. The actor plays a role that animates the character's: traits moral qualities physical presence voice

Characterization Qualities of a personality may be either physical and superficial (external) or psychological and spiritual (internal). Characters can possess both types of traits. External characteristics (characteristics that flat, one-dimensional characters possess): names physical appearance physical nature manner of speech and accent manner of dress social status class education friends family community interests

Characterization Internal characteristics (characters that round, multi-dimensional characters possess): thoughts feelings emotions

Types of Characters protagonist - the main character of a play, the one who is the center of action and holds your attention. antagonist (or villain) - the character who causes problems for the protagonist. Example: In Shakespeare's play, Othello, Othello is the protagonist and Iago is the antagonist (Desdemona can also be considered to be a protagonist). In the fairy tale and movie, Cinderella, Cinderella is the protagonist and her wicked step mother is the antagonist. foil - the character that acts as the butt of the jokes. Also a character used to show contrast with the main character. confidant/confidante - friend or servant of the antagonist or portagonist who by "listening" provides the audience with a window into what the major characters are thinking and feeling. Example: In Othello, Desdemona's nurse acts as her confidant. In Cinderella, the friendly mice serve as Cinderella's confidants. stock characters - superficial roles. (Ex: comic, victim, simpleton/fool, braggart, pretender).  

Theme theme - the central purpose or message of the play as developed by the playwright (i.e. the playwright's message for the audience).

Dramatic Irony dramatic irony - the contrast between what the character thinks the truth is and what the audience knows the truth to be. This occurs when the speaker fails to recognize the irony of his actions. For example, if the speaker were to put a curse on the murderer without realizing that he himself is the murderer, then he would have unwittingly cursed himself. Example: In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus places a curse on the murderer of Laios, not realizing that he was actually that murderer. Since the audience has information of which Othello is ignorant, they recognizes the significance of Othello's actions, while he does not.