1. The Advantages of Drama:
“Drama is life with the dull bits left out.” ~ Alfred Hitchcock

2. Key Players: Let’s give credit where credit is due.
The information in this PowerPoint is an amalgamation of information taken and adapted from the following sources:
Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama (By X.J. Kennedy/Dana Gioia)
Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, and Drama (By Robert DiYanni)
Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense (9th Edition)
My Brain
The Brains of My Colleagues (and your future teachers)

3. Background: Drama and Fiction—Sisters In the Literary Family
How are they similar?
Both are works of art created from words and the use of literary devices, such as plot, characters, symbolism, conflict, setting, etc.
Authors/playwrights may both be using their art to express implied philosophical messages about life and human nature (i.e., themes) that the reader/audience must infer based on their interpretation of the text and subtext.
Both explore “possibilities” and the potential of one’s imagination; they do not have to adhere to the limits of fact(s) and truth. Authors/playwrights can go crazy!

4. Drama and Fiction—Sisters, but They ‘Aint the Same Kid…
It is meant to be performed! It is addressed to spectators as opposed to readers. To be part of an audience is different from reading a work of fiction by yourself.
Q: How?
D: Let’s discuss this!

5. Let’s Talk More About This Audience Business
Drama is a community experience. We are watching this story happen together.
The responses of people around us affect our own responses. We, too, contribute to the community’s response whenever we laugh, sigh, applaud, catch our breath, sob like little school girls, etc.

6. A Different Kind of “Reading” Skill
Drama gives us a chance to use and develop other types of “non-verbal” reading skills, like reading people’s facial expressions, bodily stances, lighting cues, etc.
Q: What is SUBTEXT?
D: Let’s discuss!

7. Reading a Play
SO if a play is meant to be performed, why read it? Well—there are advantages to reading a play, too!
We get to put our own spin on it as opposed to just accepting the director’s and/or actor’s version of things.
What do you think Shakespeare really meant by…? You can read the play and decide for yourself!

8. Here are some potential ways you could think about analyzing drama:
Analyzing a Play
Here are some potential ways you could think about analyzing drama:
Is the play a tragedy, comedy, melodrama or farce? What are the conventions of these genres, and how important is the audience’s awareness of those conventions in order to fully experience the play?

9. Analyzing a Play Continued…
Identify the protagonist, antagonist and any foil characters. What dramatic function to they each serve? Do any of them change in any significant way? What could the playwright be using their development to say about people?
What symbols and motifs does the play present? Is the play effective in presenting those devices? Why/why not?
THEME: What is the playwright’s philosophical message about life and human nature that is shown to you by what happens in the play?
Personal Response: Did you enjoy the experience overall? Were you able to connect to any of the characters, the plot, or themes? Why/why not?

10. Let’s Brush Up on the Basic Elements of Drama: Starting with the ones we already know
 Plot (Sequence and Timing of Events)
Conflict
Setting and Mood Establishment
Character and Character Development
Symbolism & Motif
Theme

11. Romeo and Juliet: New Terms to Know!
Stage Directions (lighting, blocking, etc.)
Irony (verbal, situational and dramatic)
Dramatic Irony: There is a contradiction between what the character thinks and what the reader or audience knows to be true
Subtext
Dialogue (dialogue, monologue, soliloquy, asides)
Monologue: a long speech delivered by one character to another, or to a group
Soliloquy: Character’s internal thoughts, spoken aloud in a Shakespearean play
Aside: A private remark to one character or to the audience that breaks the conventions because it is understood not to be heard by other characters on stage.

12. Romeo and Juliet: A Tragic Love Story
Tragedy: This is an event or work of fiction that results in a disastrous conclusion for the main character.
This character is known as the tragic hero.
In a tragedy, the hero is destroyed by his/her own mistakes.
This mistake is known as a tragic flaw

13. Romeo and Juliet Characteristics of a Shakespearean Tragedy:
They focus on the imperfections that all human beings have (e.g., jealousy, impatience, ambition, anger, etc.).
 One main character struggles with the difficulties of life; characters in tragedies are usually noble or great. (If a great man can be destroyed by imperfections, what does that say about US?!?)
The problems presented in the beginning of the play are worsened by bad luck and poor decisions. There are no second chances once mistakes are made….there is NO relief.

14. Now get ready to get your Shakespeare on!
Fin
Now get ready to get your Shakespeare on!