Elements of Drama

Drama Drama is a form of literature designed to be performed in front of an audience. Drama is a form of literature designed to be performed in front of an audience. There are two main types of drama: comedy and tragedy. There are two main types of drama: comedy and tragedy. Like fiction, dramatic works have a plot, characters, setting, conflict, and one or more themes. Like fiction, dramatic works have a plot, characters, setting, conflict, and one or more themes.

Act- a division within a play, much like chapters of a novel Act- a division within a play, much like chapters of a novel Aside- lines that are spoken by a character directly to the audience Aside- lines that are spoken by a character directly to the audience Cast of characters- a list of characters presented before the action begins Cast of characters- a list of characters presented before the action begins Chorus- a person or group of people who act as a narrator, commentator, or general audience to the action of the play Chorus- a person or group of people who act as a narrator, commentator, or general audience to the action of the play

Comedy- a humorous work of drama Comedy- a humorous work of drama Dialogue- conversation between two or more characters Dialogue- conversation between two or more characters Foil- a character who is nearly opposite of another character; the purpose of a foil is to reveal a stark contrast between the two characters, often the protagonist and antagonist Foil- a character who is nearly opposite of another character; the purpose of a foil is to reveal a stark contrast between the two characters, often the protagonist and antagonist

Monologue- a long speech spoken by a character to himself, another character, or to the audience Monologue- a long speech spoken by a character to himself, another character, or to the audience Scene- a division of an act into smaller parts Scene- a division of an act into smaller parts Soliloquy- thoughts spoken aloud by a character when he/she is alone, or thinks he/she is alone Soliloquy- thoughts spoken aloud by a character when he/she is alone, or thinks he/she is alone

Stage directions- italicized comments that identify parts of the setting or the use of props or costumes, give further information about a character, or provide background information Stage directions- italicized comments that identify parts of the setting or the use of props or costumes, give further information about a character, or provide background information Tragedy- a serious work of drama in which the hero suffers catastrophe or serious misfortune, usually because of his own actions Tragedy- a serious work of drama in which the hero suffers catastrophe or serious misfortune, usually because of his own actions

Tragic hero- a protagonist with a fatal flaw which eventually leads to his demise Tragic hero- a protagonist with a fatal flaw which eventually leads to his demise

William Shakespeare William was born to a wealthy business owner named John and his wife was named Mary. William was born to a wealthy business owner named John and his wife was named Mary. William was born on April 23, William was born on April 23, They lived in Stratford-upon-Avon in England. They lived in Stratford-upon-Avon in England. Shakespeare began his education at the age of six or seven at the Stratford grammar school. Shakespeare began his education at the age of six or seven at the Stratford grammar school.

Shakespeare was taken out of school at the age of 13 due to his father’s financial problems. Shakespeare was taken out of school at the age of 13 due to his father’s financial problems. The events of his life between the ages of the age of thirteen and when he emerged in London as an actor, is generally unknown. The events of his life between the ages of the age of thirteen and when he emerged in London as an actor, is generally unknown. At age 18 in 1596 he married Anne Hathaway, who was eight years older than him and pregnant at the time. At age 18 in 1596 he married Anne Hathaway, who was eight years older than him and pregnant at the time.

They had three children, Susanna and twins Hamnet and Judith. They had three children, Susanna and twins Hamnet and Judith. In London, he acted and served as a reviser and writer of plays. In London, he acted and served as a reviser and writer of plays. At 28, he began to impress his contemporaries with the quality and popularity of his work. At 28, he began to impress his contemporaries with the quality and popularity of his work.

Shakespeare acted with several companies including the Chamberlain’s Men who provided entertainment for the Royal Court. Shakespeare acted with several companies including the Chamberlain’s Men who provided entertainment for the Royal Court. Shakespeare lived a comfortable life, buying one of the largest homes in Stratford. Shakespeare lived a comfortable life, buying one of the largest homes in Stratford. He was a well-known landowner whose estate included farmland, pasture, and gardens. He was a well-known landowner whose estate included farmland, pasture, and gardens.

He also became part-owner of the most popular theatre in London, the Globe Theatre. He also became part-owner of the most popular theatre in London, the Globe Theatre. Shakespeare died at home on April 23 in Shakespeare died at home on April 23 in Within a few years of Shakespeare’s death, a monument to him was erected and placed on the north wall of Westminster Abbey in London. Within a few years of Shakespeare’s death, a monument to him was erected and placed on the north wall of Westminster Abbey in London.

Literary Techniques Allusion- a literary reference to a well-known work of art, music, history or literature Allusion- a literary reference to a well-known work of art, music, history or literature Blank-verse- non-rhyming poetry, usually written in iambic pentameter, most of Shakespeare’s plays are written in this form Blank-verse- non-rhyming poetry, usually written in iambic pentameter, most of Shakespeare’s plays are written in this form Comic relief- in a tragedy, a break in the seriousness for a moment of comedy or silliness Comic relief- in a tragedy, a break in the seriousness for a moment of comedy or silliness

Double entendre- a word or phrase with more than one meaning, usually when the second meaning is risqué Double entendre- a word or phrase with more than one meaning, usually when the second meaning is risqué Dramatic irony- when the audience or reader knows something that the characters in the story do not know Dramatic irony- when the audience or reader knows something that the characters in the story do not know Euphemism- a substitution of a more pleasant expression for one whose meaning may come across as rude or offensive Euphemism- a substitution of a more pleasant expression for one whose meaning may come across as rude or offensive

Iambic pentameter- a 10-syllable line divided into 5 iambic feet (one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable) Iambic pentameter- a 10-syllable line divided into 5 iambic feet (one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable) Prose- normal speech rhythm Prose- normal speech rhythm

Appreciating Shakespeare’s Language Shakespeare used an extensive array of vocabulary, including archaic language, an unfamiliar grammatical structure, and a “backward” arrangement of words in his sonnets and plays. Shakespeare used an extensive array of vocabulary, including archaic language, an unfamiliar grammatical structure, and a “backward” arrangement of words in his sonnets and plays. The trick to reading Shakespeare’s works is to try to get the idea or “gist” of what the characters are saying, rather than trying to figure out what every single word means. The trick to reading Shakespeare’s works is to try to get the idea or “gist” of what the characters are saying, rather than trying to figure out what every single word means.

Vocabulary Remember that Shakespeare was an artist and his words were his tools. Remember that Shakespeare was an artist and his words were his tools. Shakespeare had a vocabulary of about 29,000 words: almost twice that of an American college student today. Shakespeare had a vocabulary of about 29,000 words: almost twice that of an American college student today. Words such as dwindle and assassination are actually Shakespeare’s invention and had never been used before him. Words such as dwindle and assassination are actually Shakespeare’s invention and had never been used before him.

Words, Words, Words Shakespeare liked to use words in clever ways and often in strange order. Shakespeare liked to use words in clever ways and often in strange order. Translate the following lines into Modern English. Remember Shakespeare often rearranged wording or left out words in a sentence to make the rhythm fit iambic pentameter. Translate the following lines into Modern English. Remember Shakespeare often rearranged wording or left out words in a sentence to make the rhythm fit iambic pentameter. “Why call you for a sword?” “Why call you for a sword?” “Come you this afternoon.” “Come you this afternoon.” “Fear me not.” “Fear me not.”

“Saw you him today?” “Saw you him today?” “Right glad I am he was not at this fray.” “Right glad I am he was not at this fray.” “Dost thou not laugh?” “Dost thou not laugh?”