Drama Notes

History of Drama Primitive Primitive Egyptian Egyptian Greek Greek Roman Roman Medieval Medieval Elizabethan Elizabethan Jacobean--Macbeth Jacobean--Macbeth

Primitive Drama Four types of dramatic dances: Four types of dramatic dances: Story dances Story dances War dances War dances Religious dances Religious dances Initiation dances Initiation dances

Egyptian Drama First formal drama recorded First formal drama recorded Most dealt with the afterlife Most dealt with the afterlife Performed in temples or special tombs Performed in temples or special tombs

Now, read your notes and pull out the key pieces of information and summarize them. Summarizing exercise sheet Summarizing exercise sheet

Greek Drama Considered to be the best drama the world has ever known Considered to be the best drama the world has ever known Tragedies Tragedies Major influence: Aristotle Major influence: Aristotle First type of crudely-built theatres First type of crudely-built theatres

Aristotle’s Rules: 1. The main character, or hero, must be a man of elevated social position with a tragic flaw which leads to his downfall and death. 1. The main character, or hero, must be a man of elevated social position with a tragic flaw which leads to his downfall and death. The two types of character flaws are hubris and hamartia. The two types of character flaws are hubris and hamartia. 2. The play must include discovery (where the hero goes from ignorance to knowledge) and reversal (where the hero’s wishes are thwarted and his efforts boomerang.) 2. The play must include discovery (where the hero goes from ignorance to knowledge) and reversal (where the hero’s wishes are thwarted and his efforts boomerang.)

3. The play must conform to the three unities of: 3. The play must conform to the three unities of: time (all action takes place within 24 hours) time (all action takes place within 24 hours) place (there is only one setting) place (there is only one setting) action (all events support the central conflict). action (all events support the central conflict). 4. The play must provide catharsis, or a purging of emotions, through which we all learn to live better lives. 4. The play must provide catharsis, or a purging of emotions, through which we all learn to live better lives.

5. The play must be written in the highest form of poetry. 5. The play must be written in the highest form of poetry.

Roman Drama The construction of “theatres” & what they had: curtains, pulpitum, awnings, claque, etc. The construction of “theatres” & what they had: curtains, pulpitum, awnings, claque, etc. Ban on drama from the Church Ban on drama from the Church Influences: Influences: Plautus’ comedies & stock characters Plautus’ comedies & stock characters Seneca & his “closet dramas” or tragedies… Seneca & his “closet dramas” or tragedies…

First of all, what are Tragedies? a serious play or narrative in which the hero becomes engaged in a conflict, experiences great suffering, is finally defeated, and dies. a serious play or narrative in which the hero becomes engaged in a conflict, experiences great suffering, is finally defeated, and dies. In England, tragedy plays began during Elizabethan times. The chief influences (dramatic tradition & theory) were classical pieces written by Aristotle and Roman philosopher Seneca. In England, tragedy plays began during Elizabethan times. The chief influences (dramatic tradition & theory) were classical pieces written by Aristotle and Roman philosopher Seneca.

Senecan Tragedies Roman philosopher Seneca (Thyestes) wrote many revenge tragedy plays in the late 16 th century. Roman philosopher Seneca (Thyestes) wrote many revenge tragedy plays in the late 16 th century. Most Senecan tragedies followed the basic pattern: Most Senecan tragedies followed the basic pattern: 5 act play 5 act play Chorus (for comment) Chorus (for comment) Stock characters (ghost) Stock characters (ghost) Cruel tyrant Cruel tyrant The faithful male servant/female confidante The faithful male servant/female confidante Presentation of much of the action through messengers’ reports Presentation of much of the action through messengers’ reports

Sensational themes (adultery, incest, infanticide) often motivated by revenge Sensational themes (adultery, incest, infanticide) often motivated by revenge Prevailing theme: the revenge of a father for a murdered son or vice versa (the revenge is directed by the ghost of the murdered man) Prevailing theme: the revenge of a father for a murdered son or vice versa (the revenge is directed by the ghost of the murdered man) Highly rhetorical style (hyperbole, detailed descriptions, exaggerated comparisons, epigrams, stichomythia, etc. Highly rhetorical style (hyperbole, detailed descriptions, exaggerated comparisons, epigrams, stichomythia, etc. Lots of introspection and soliloquies Lots of introspection and soliloquies

Shakespeare was influenced by the Senecan tragedy…Shakespeare based Macbeth on the Senecan tragedy format and plot, but it is classified as a Revenge Tragedy. Shakespeare was influenced by the Senecan tragedy…Shakespeare based Macbeth on the Senecan tragedy format and plot, but it is classified as a Revenge Tragedy.

Summarize again…but this time in the form of a précis! What is a précis? A condensed version of the original document (summary) A condensed version of the original document (summary) 1/3 of the original version’s length 1/3 of the original version’s length Keep to the main facts/points Keep to the main facts/points Do not put your ideas/interpretations into it Do not put your ideas/interpretations into it

Why learn to write one? A precis demonstrates that you have assimilated the key information provided in an article. Writing a precis (or any summary) of an article is an excellent way of learning material for the long term, and gives you a record to “jog your memory”.

How to write a précis: 1 - Read the article carefully all the way through 2 - Consider the main points/theme 3 - Go over the article again, jotting down the main points (NOT whole sentences) 4 – Seam together the points, in order, in a logical narrative 5 – Edit to place proper stress on main points, cut out extra details 6 – Take a count of your words. You should have no more than 1/3 of the original document.

An example of a précis: (Mastering Effective English) (Mastering Effective English)

Evaluating a précis: Is every statement in the original clearly condensed? Is every statement in the original clearly condensed? Are all important ideas included? Are all important ideas included? Are all minor details and all unnecessary words excluded? Are all minor details and all unnecessary words excluded? Are the sentences compact with ideas clearly subordinated? Are the sentences compact with ideas clearly subordinated? Is the language straightforward and idiomatic? Is the language straightforward and idiomatic? Is the paraphrasing that of the original? Is the paraphrasing that of the original? Will the précis be clear to one who has not read the original selection? Will the précis be clear to one who has not read the original selection? Are the spelling, punctuation, grammar and sentence structure correct? Are the spelling, punctuation, grammar and sentence structure correct? Does the finished work read smoothly? Is it coherent? Does the finished work read smoothly? Is it coherent? Is the précis 1/3 as long as the original or within 5 words of the specified limit? Is the précis 1/3 as long as the original or within 5 words of the specified limit?

Medieval Drama Tropes Tropes Switch from religious drama to secular Switch from religious drama to secular The three M’s: The three M’s: Mystery, Miracle & Morality Plays Mystery, Miracle & Morality Plays

Elizabethan Drama Traveling acting companies Traveling acting companies Magistrates Magistrates Closed in winter Closed in winter Vagabonds Vagabonds Apprentices & shares Apprentices & shares Props vs. costumes Props vs. costumes Puritanism Puritanism Repertoire of plays Repertoire of plays Playhouse pirates Playhouse pirates Men and boys (wife to cook/costume) Men and boys (wife to cook/costume)

Stationary Acting Companies Stationary Acting Companies Blackfriars (mostly university students) Blackfriars (mostly university students) Lord Chamberlain’s Men Lord Chamberlain’s Men Philip Henslowe’s Actors Philip Henslowe’s Actors

Elizabethan Drama Shift in social acceptance of actors Shift in social acceptance of actors Queen Elizabeth I Queen Elizabeth I Sponsor Sponsor Whitehall Palace Whitehall Palace Demand a play to be written with certain characters, actors, etc Demand a play to be written with certain characters, actors, etc Lord Chamberlain’s Men Lord Chamberlain’s Men Shakespeare, Burbage, Henslowe Shakespeare, Burbage, Henslowe

Elizabethan Drama Public & Private Playhouses Public & Private Playhouses Blackfriars (private/closed) Blackfriars (private/closed) The Swan The Swan The Curtain The Curtain The Theatre The Theatre The Rose The Rose The Fortune The Fortune The Globe The Globe

Elizabethan Drama Globe Theatre Globe Theatre Shakespeare/Burbage Shakespeare/Burbage Open-air Open-air 3 stories 3 stories Shillings for seating/eating Shillings for seating/eating Pennystinkers & pit Pennystinkers & pit Apron stage & trap door Apron stage & trap door Balcony Balcony Canopy Canopy Tiring rooms Tiring rooms Music hut Music hut Flag Flag Playbills Playbills

Jacobean Drama Macbeth Macbeth Revenge Tragedy-most popular format Revenge Tragedy-most popular format