Drama, Drama, Drama Vocabulary

A Drama is… A story that is written with the purpose of being performed in front of an audience. Or in other words, a play Dramas always have 5 major elements (& often more): Rising action Conflict Climax Falling action Resolution

Elements Explained Rising action- related scenes that build toward the point of greatest interest Climax- the most intense, exciting, or important part of a form of art Falling action- the climax begins to unwind, questions are answered, the conclusion is upon us Resolution- the act of solving the problem (resolutions are not always good)

Conflict A conflict is a problem or clash between opposing characters, forces, or emotions Conflicts are either external or internal External conflicts are caused by forces outside of the character Internal conflicts are caused by the character’s thoughts, feelings, or decisions

Complications Complications are events that arise that prevent the progress of the characters Although complications slow down the progress of the characters, they advance the plot and often introduce the audience to new characters.

Comedy There are two main types of drama: comedy and tragedy A comedy is a play or drama that ends successfully or happily It usually ends with characters getting married The characters often belong to ANY social class.

Setting the Scene Stage The stage is where the play is performed Stages are constructed in various ways, but for our purposes, we’ll focus on: The Proscenium Stage The Theatre in the Round

Stage Directions Stage Directions Left Right Upstage Backstage

Scene Design The scene design consists of Design Concept Style and Tone Time Period and Location Coordination IT’S LIT! – lighting plays a major role in capturing the mood. It also helps the audience focus

Oh, What a Tragedy! What is a tragedy? “A play that recounts an important series of events in the life of a significant person.” –Aristotle Tragedies end in death, which is an unhappy ending were all is lost. The ending usually provides closure or answers for the audience, which helps the viewer cleanse pity and fear. They are centered on the actions of one central character.

I’m G(r)eeked! Tragedies are based on Greek mythology and artistic expression. Because of this, authors based their plays on familiar gods so audiences wouldn’t need an explanation or background information. Gods were responsible for city-states Fulfilling religious duties was seen as imperative Masks were used when impersonating gods, so the gods wouldn’t be offended

Tragic Hero The tragic hero is the character, often the protagonist, who experiences a reversal of fortune because of a twist of fate or a flaw/weakness in the character Tragic flaw: flaw, error, or defect that leads to the hero’s death or downfall Tragic force: event or force that starts the downfall

I thought heroes were FLAWLESS… The tragic hero’s tragic flaw is often caused by hubris Hubris: overwhelming pride that causes misfortune for the protagonist The tragic hero’s hubris often leads them to make decisions that end in hamartia: Hamartia: an error, flaw, or misstep that causes the hero to fall

Tragic Heroes of Today

Exit Slip Write about a tragic hero of today. This could be a celebrity, a friend, or a family member. Tell why they are a tragic hero and what there tragic flaw is/was.