UGRC 160-Introduction to Literature SESSION 11

DRAMA: PART TWO Dramatic Technique

Session Objectives At the end of the session the student will; Understand the craft of the dramatist and the tools he or she employs in weaving the plot of the narrative to achieve the ultimate goal of sustaining the interest of his or her audience

What are dramatic techniques? Dramatic techniques include literary devices and staging elements deployed by the playwright, director or stage manager to enhance the emotional, aural, and visual experience of the audience and to optimally project a script's intentions.

What are dramatic techniques? Cont’d. It is important to remember, when reading a play that drama is written to be performed rather than to be read. It can be difficult to fully appreciate a piece of drama if you are reading it silently from a book. A dramatist has an advantage of being able to use most of the literary devices that are available to novelists, as well as using dramatic devices or techniques peculiar to the stage.

Dramatic Techniques Speech directions: Cues or words in brackets that tell the actor how to say the lines. Asides: When a character temporarily turns away from another character and speaks directly to the audience. Entrance and exits: When characters exit and enter a scene. It is always worthwhile to pay particular attention to what is being said as they enter or what they say as they leave. Scenes and Acts: It is important to pay attention to when a playwright chooses to end a Scene and/or an Act (a number of scenes). It is usually significant in building audience expectations of what is to come. Symbolism: When an object is used to represent something else, e.g. a broken vase may symbolize a broken relationship.

Dramatic Techniques, cont’d. Stage Directions: They tell us what should be happening on stage and will often include clues, e.g. the darkening of the stage may suggest something bad approaching. Apart from stage directions, actors often benefit from the cues provided by prompters offstage especially when they are in danger of forgetting their lines. Soliloquy: When a character is alone on stage and speaks out his or her thoughts aloud. Language that invites action A character can say something that requires others to act or react. By the way, how does this differ from a monologue? There are many other techniques that dramatists adopt in order to make their plays successful and appealing to audiences. Can you think of some others not mentioned above? Does the use of sound or lightening in staging plays, for instance, constitute a dramatic technique? Why? Can you tell what techniques are being used in the next slide?

Dramatic Techniques in Pictures THANK YOU