LITERARY TEXT AND DRAMA

DRAMA  Drama is a piece of literature that is meant to be performed.  It is also a composition that tells a story by a means of dialogue and action performed by actors. Example: Romeo and Juliet.

ASIDE VS. SOLILOQUY  Aside - the actor turns and speaks directly to the audience.  Further understanding: The other actors on set can physically hear the words, but as their characters they pretend as if nothing was said. The audience understands that the speech was meant for them only.

ASIDE VS. SOLILOQUY  Soliloquy is a long piece where the actor speaks to himself or herself.  Example:

DIALOGUE VS. MONOLOGUE  Dialogue - conversation between two or more people  Monologue - a long speech in which one character speaks at length to another character  Example of Dialogue:

DIALOGUE VS. MONOLOGUE  Example of Monologue: “You know the thing about a shark, he’s got lifeless eyes. Black eyes like a doll’s eyes. When he comes at ya, he doesn’t seem to be living until he bites ya and those black eyes roll over and white and then, ah, then you hear that terrible high-pitch screaming. The ocean turns red and despite all the pounding and hollering, they all come in and they rip you to pieces.” – Robert Shaw: JAWS.

PROTAGONIST, ANTAGONIST, & MORAL DILEMMA Protagonist – seeks to solve a problem or settles conflict Antagonist - prevents the main character from solving the problem Moral Dilemma - Internal conflict the character is facing

CHARACTER FOIL  Character Foil - character who has traits the exact opposite of the protagonist

COMIC RELIEF  Comic Relief - the inclusion of a humorous character, scene, or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension

STAGE DESIGN & STAGE DIRECTION  Stage Design - the way the setting of the play looks on stage  Stage Direction - tells the actor exactly what to do and how to do it

DICTION  Diction – the word choice the writer uses  Example: “She ain’t concelin nothing. I never seen nobody like her.” – Of Mice and Men

DRAMATIC IRONY  Dramatic Irony – the difference in what one character says and thinks and what the audience knows is true.  Example: Scar acted as though he was looking out for Simba but instead was plotting to take the throne from Simba

MOTIF  Motif - a distinctive feature or dominant idea in a piece of drama  Unlike a symbol, a motif only matters to the story that it is in. A symbol would work in any story, but a motif only works in that particular story.  What do these motifs represent?