1. Structure of Drama Plot – action and events of a play
Character – person in the play
Diction – language
Reasoning – the way speech is used to present all aspects of the play, including the production of emotions such as pity, terror, and anger
Sound – audible part of a play
Spectacle – visible part of the play

2. Exposition of a Play
The process of making certain aspects of the play apparent to the audience.
What kind of play being presented
Where and when it is taking place
Who the leading characters are
Situations and conflicts they find themselves in

3. Atmosphere The environment of the play
Created by lighting and staging, tempos of speech, movements, and choice of language
Mood: emotional feeling of the play
Setting, character, lighting, and dialogue all determine mood.

4. Preliminary Situation/Action
Clearly defined explanation of events that have occurred in the lives of the leading characters before the action of the play begins.
Minor characters are often used to bring the audience up to date.
Prologues, telephone conversations, narrators

5. Plot! Series of related events that take place before the audience.
Development and resolution of the major conflict
Whether physical, mental, or emotional, the conflicting elements must give rise to suspense and then be resolved in some manner

6. Stages in the plot structure
Preliminary situation – the before stuff
Initial incident – first important event from which the rest of the plot develops
Rising action – series of events following the initial incident. Goals and obstacles are revealed

7. Stages, continued
Climax- Turning point of the action. Moment of intense crisis that determines the outcome of the conflict
Falling action – Series of events following the climax – incidents must be significant and help aid the resolution
Conclusion – Logical outcome of the preceding action – success or failure, happiness or sorrow of the characters

8. Different types of Dialogue
Lines of the play
Must be appropriate for the time and place
Playwrights must often sacrifice beautiful words for a more naturalness of speech
Must serve a function
Soliloquies – actors talk alone/think out loud

9. Theme Basic idea of the play
Author dramatizes this through the conflicts of the characters
A moral – lesson or a principle contained within a play or taught by a play

10. Review
Name and define the four narrative essentials of a play. How are these narrative essentials communicated by the dramatist?
Who first expressed the principles of traditional drama? What did he identify as the key elements of a play?
How does some modern drama differ from traditional drama?
How does mood differ from atmosphere?
What are the five major parts of plot structure that follow the preliminary situation?
Describe three methods of characterization available to playwrights.

11. Application
Select a movie or play. Identify the four narrative essentials. Discuss how the dramatist presents each element.
Describe a play or a movie that made you think about its theme.