1. Drama, Drama, Drama
Vocabulary

2. A Drama is…
A story that is written with the purpose of being performed in front of an audience.
Or in other words, a play
Dramas always have 5 major elements (& often more):
Rising action
Conflict
Climax
Falling action
Resolution

3. Elements Explained
Rising action- related scenes that build toward the point of greatest interest
Climax- the most intense, exciting, or important part of a form of art
Falling action- the climax begins to unwind, questions are answered, the conclusion is upon us
Resolution- the act of solving the problem (resolutions are not always good)

4. Conflict
A conflict is a problem or clash between opposing characters, forces, or emotions
Conflicts are either external or internal
External conflicts are caused by forces outside of the character
Internal conflicts are caused by the character’s thoughts, feelings, or decisions

5. Complications
Complications are events that arise that prevent the progress of the characters
Although complications slow down the progress of the characters, they advance the plot and often introduce the audience to new characters.

6. Comedy There are two main types of drama: comedy and tragedy
A comedy is a play or drama that ends successfully or happily
It usually ends with characters getting married
The characters often belong to ANY social class.

7. Setting the Scene Stage The stage is where the play is performed
Stages are constructed in various ways, but for our purposes, we’ll focus on:
The Proscenium Stage
The Theatre in the Round

8. Stage Directions
Stage Directions
Left
Right
Upstage
Backstage

9. Scene Design The scene design consists of Design Concept
Style and Tone
Time Period and Location
Coordination
IT’S LIT! – lighting plays a major role in capturing the mood. It also helps the audience focus

10. Oh, What a Tragedy! What is a tragedy?
“A play that recounts an important series of events in the life of a significant person.” –Aristotle
Tragedies end in death, which is an unhappy ending were all is lost.
The ending usually provides closure or answers for the audience, which helps the viewer cleanse pity and fear.
They are centered on the actions of one central character.

11. I’m G(r)eeked!
Tragedies are based on Greek mythology and artistic expression.
Because of this, authors based their plays on familiar gods so audiences wouldn’t need an explanation or background information.
Gods were responsible for city-states
Fulfilling religious duties was seen as imperative
Masks were used when impersonating gods, so the gods wouldn’t be offended

12. Tragic Hero
The tragic hero is the character, often the protagonist, who experiences a reversal of fortune because of a twist of fate or a flaw/weakness in the character
Tragic flaw: flaw, error, or defect that leads to the hero’s death or downfall
Tragic force: event or force that starts the downfall

13. I thought heroes were FLAWLESS…
The tragic hero’s tragic flaw is often caused by hubris
Hubris: overwhelming pride that causes misfortune for the protagonist
The tragic hero’s hubris often leads them to make decisions that end in hamartia:
Hamartia: an error, flaw, or misstep that causes the hero to fall

14. Tragic Heroes of Today

15. Exit Slip
Write about a tragic hero of today. This could be a celebrity, a friend, or a family member. Tell why they are a tragic hero and what there tragic flaw is/was.