1. Introduction to Drama

2. What is Drama?
Drama is a type of literature that is primarily written to be performed for an audience. When reading a play, it is important to keep certain features of drama in mind. Some of these features relate to drama as literature; others reflect its character as a performance.

3. History… Greek Drama 500-400 B.C.
Medieval: The Middle Ages AD
Elizabethan & Jacobean
Restoration & 18th Cent. Drama
Romantic Era
Modern Era 1850-Present

4. Types of Drama- Tragedy
Tragedy: A play in which the main character experiences disaster, but faces this downfall in such a way as to attain heroic stature.*
Even though Tragedies are “gloomy” they are triumphant, because they inspire exaltation at the greatness human beings can attain even in defeat.

5. Comedy Comedy closes with a peaceful resolution of the main conflict.*
High Comedy: The humor arises from subtle characterization, social satire, and sophisticated wit.
Low Comedy: Emphasizes absurd dialogue, bawdy jokes, visual gags, and physical humor.*

6. Types of Comedy
Romantic Comedy: The main characters are lovers, and the plot tends to follow the pattern of “boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl again.”
Satiric Comedy: Uses humor to ridicule foolish ideas or customs with the purpose of improving society.
Comedy of Manners: Satirizes the vices and follies of the upper class.*

7. Additional Forms of Drama
Farce: Relies on exaggeration, absurdity, and slapstick
Straight Drama or Drama: Deal with serious subjects, but do not always end in disaster.

8. Elements of Drama
External Conflict: Pits a character against nature or fate, society, or another character
Internal conflict: Between opposing forces within a character.
Protagonist: The central character of the play and often undergoes radical changes as the action progresses.*
Antagonist: The character who opposes the main character*

9. Foil: A minor character whose traits contrast sharply with those of the protagonist
Dialogue: Conversations between characters
Monologue: A long speech spoken by a single character to himself or herself, or to the audience
Soliloquy: A monologue in which a character speaks his or her private thoughts aloud and appears to be unaware of the audience.

10. Aside: a short speech or comment delivered by a character to the audience, but unheard by the other characters who are present.

11. Conventions of Drama
Cast of Characters: listed in the beginning of the play, before the action starts.
Act: a major division of a play
Scenes: Major division of an act
Stage Directions: a dramatist’s instructions for performing a play.

12. Protagonist

13. Antagonist