Our Big Question: “How can we use SPEECH, GUESTURES, and MOVEMENT to bring characters to life?”

Drama Vocabulary

Drama A play that tells a story through the words and actions of characters. Example: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

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

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

Tragedy A tragedy is a play that ends unhappily. right and wrong Logical order of events; causal relationships 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 pride rebelliousness jealousy The protagonist of most classical tragedies is a tragic hero. The tragic hero: is noble and in many ways admirable Usually a fall from grace Domino effect has a tragic flaw, a personal failing that leads to a tragic end Recognition/discovery – in the end Hero realizes his flaw/mistake pride 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 Flaws lead to prosperity/humor rather than catastrophe Ordinary people Stereotypes Plots unpredictable

Types of Comedy Satire Exposes human faults Critical of human conduct Romance Tolerant and friendly Sympathetic as opposed to corrective

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

Playwright A writer of a play

Cast of Characters Group of actors who are playing character roles Example: Snow White……….Mary Rodriguez Prince……………..Harry Collins Witch/Old Lady…..Susie Sparks Magic Mirror………Robert Smith

Roles The character or person that an actor or actress plays the part of. Example: A 4th grade girl plays the role of Snow White in the play, ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’.

Script The written text of a play.

Stage Directions Directions that tell characters how to act or show their feelings. Describes setting In ( ) parenthesis or brackets [ ] Example: Snow White: (Smiles when she sees the shiny red apples.) Those apples look delicious! Can I have one?

Props (properties) Things, or items, that the characters or actors/actresses may need to use as they perform their part. Example: Snow White………………………………....apple Ranita (Ranita, The Frog Princess)……….......golden arrow Curious George…………………………….banana Charlie (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)…chocolate bar

“Show, Don’t Tell” In a novel, writers use narrative passages to tell story along with description and dialogue In a play, the whole story must be conveyed by dialogue and stage actions Example: If a man is mean--- In a short story or novel, writer can tell you In a play, must show by actions or dialogue

Dialogue 1) All speech in a play 2) conversation between two characters

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.

A Collaborative Medium Set Designers Costumers Lighting Sound Playwright Producer Director Actor

Get Ready for a Quiz! Number your paper from 1 to 7. Write the letter of the correct answer for each question. GOOD LUCK!

QUIz What is another word for ‘drama’. Tragedy Story Play Movie

QUIz What do we call the writer of a play. Poet Author Playwright illustrator

Quiz The group of people that are playing certain roles in a play is called the _______________. Audience Cast of characters Writers speakers

Quiz The directions, or words, in parenthesis that show the actions or feelings that the characters are supposed to show. They may also give information about the setting. These directions are called _____. Plot directions Stage directions Actor directions Audience directions

quiz 5. What do we call the part that an actor plays in a drama? Role Prop Dialogue Narrator

quiz 6. What do we call the written text of a play. Paper Script Playwright Text

quiz 7. What do we call the things, or items, that a character may use in a play. For example, the person playing the role of Snow White may have an apple which will cause her to fall into a spell when she bites it. The apple is called a ________. Fruit elements Food Prop (properties)