1. Introduction to Theatre A
Structure of Drama

2. Tradition and Innovation in Drama
Aristotle ( B.C)
- Greek philosopher
- He identified the basic principles of
playwriting
*description of tragedy was considered to
be the key element of a successful play

3. Drama
It is an imitation of life, that we learned through imitation, and that learning something is the greatest pleasure in life
Human happiness or misery takes the form of action
Plot is the most important element in the play

4. Aristotle’s Key Elements
Spectacles - The visible part of a play
Sound - The audible part of a play, especially a poetic play
Diction – language
Character – a person in the play
Reasoning – the way speech is used to present all aspects of the play, including the production of emotions such as pity, terror, and anger.
Plot – the action and events of a play
Action- must have unity (beginning, middle, and an end)
Must be in logical order
- Must reach a plausible (appearing worthy of belief) solution

5. Protagonist should be “average or better” persons who experience happiness or misery as a result of their reactions to the situation of the plot
French and Italian neoclassicists
- 16th century (1500s)
- they set up rules requiring the use of three
unities: time, action, and place
- action must take place in one 24 hour period

6. Later, many disregarded the rules, but plays have a tradition
- plays are divided into 3 or 5 acts (sections)
i.e. Othello
ACT ONE –Scene 1-3
ACT TWO – Scene 1-3
ACT THREE- Scene 1-4
ACT FOUR- Scene 1-3
ACT FIVE- Scene 1-2
- Climax: the climax comes at the end of the
second act (II) in a 3 act play or at the end of
the third (III) act in a 5 act play
Structure did change over time which changed the plot structure

7. Four Part Structure of Drama
Exposition- the information put before an audience that gives the where, when, why, and who facts of a play - you must know what kind of play is being presented * Where and when its taking place * Who are the lead characters * What situation and conflicts they find themselves
Literary
setting

8. This section is often boring (Much like the beginning of a book)
Skillful writers make it brief and unobtrusive
-they tell us all the necessary parts in a subtle
way.
- many times, this information is printed in a
program
- playwrights may have a character state the
facts
(Shakespeare : Romeo and Juliet – Prologue)

9. Prologue
Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Do with their death bury their parents' strife. The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, And the continuance of their parents' rage, Which, but their children's end, nought could remove, Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

10. Exposition establishes the atmosphere and mood
Atmosphere – the environment of the play,
largely created by staging and lighting
-tempo (speed) of speech and movement also
contribute to the atmosphere
- it helps bring out feelings that create mood,
or emotional feelings
*characters, setting, lighting, and dialogue all
help bring out the mood
* the audience should be able to identify the
mood of a play at the beginning

11. Preliminary action (antecedent action)
- The most important part of the exposition
- a clearly defined explanation of events that
have occurred in the lives of the leading
characters before the action of the play
begins

12. Devices used for Preliminary Situation
Minor characters bring the audience up to date.
Prologues
Telephone conversations
Narrators
Ingenious scenic effects

13. Plot
Plot – a series of related events that take place before the audience - the development and resolution of the major conflicts * the plot is usually a problem facing the protagonist and the antagonist

14. Types of Conflicts Clash of will or wit can be a
Psychological struggle (internal) physical,
Battle between groups mental, or
emotional
The conflict must give rise to suspense and then be resolved in some way

15. Plot Structure 4 Resolution Complication 5 3 6 1 2
Situation- the predicament or problem the plot revolves around.
Preliminary Situation
Initial Incident
Rising Action
Falling action
Conclusion

16. 36 Dramatic Situations
Supplication Slaying of a kinship unrecognized
Deliverance Self-sacrificing for an ideal
Crime pursued by vengeance 21. All sacrifice for kindred
Vengeance taken for kindred upon kindred All sacrificed for a passion
Pursuit Necessity of sacrificing loved ones
Disaster Rivalry of superior and inferior
Falling prey to cruelty 25. Adultery
Revolt Crimes of love
Daring enterprise 27. Discovery of the dishonor of a loved one
Abduction Obstacles to love
The enigma An enemy loved
Obtaining Ambition
Enmity Conflict with a god
Rivalry of kinship 32. Mistaken jealousy
Murderous adultery 33. Erroneous judgment
Madness Remorse
Fatal imprudence 35. Recovery of a lost one
Involuntary crimes of love 36. Loss of loved ones

17. Character
Should be people who can hold the audience’s interest throughout the play
In a well written play, minor characters have interesting, unique personalities
Must be vivid and varied in personality with their dominant traits made evident through their speeches and actions
They leave a lasting impression ever after we have seen or read a play

18. Dialogue – lines of the play
- dramatists must make a character speak as
the audience would expect the women and
men to speak based on character’s time,
social class, community, and experience
- playwright must advance the plot, motivate
the actions of the character, and place the
characters in exciting or amusing situations
- every word must serve a purpose in the
development of the play

19. - playwrights use soliloquies to reveal character
- playwrights use soliloquies to reveal character * speeches in which actors talk alone think aloud – about themselves and their motives or about other people and situations - it’s a simple way to reveal a character’s inner thoughts.

20. Defining Character’s Motivation
Most important phase of characterization is understanding your character’s motivation. Every action of a character must have a reason behind it, which in turn must be the result of both the character’s personality and the situation of the moment
Defining Character’s Motivation
What does this character need or want?
Who or what stands in the way of the character’s needs or wants?
What conditions affect the character’s thoughts, words, and actions?
Why does this character say or do certain things?

21. Theme
Basic idea of a play, which the author dramatizes through the conflicts of characters.
- sometimes the playwright states the theme in words spoken by a character, but often it is left to the interpretation of the audience or the reader.
- main theme is a specific idea that gives unity and purpose to everything that happens

22. - the main theme could be presented by the title (“Whose Life is it Anyway?”) - it can be stated in a key line expressed/emphasized by the leading character as a personal philosophy of life, and then carried out in the situations resulting from this philosophy i.e. The theme in Romeo and Juliet is left to the audience to infer. It might be stated as “The depth and beauty of pure love go beyond the barriers of prejudice and revenge.”

23. Moral – a lesson or a principle contained within a play or taught by a play.
- many plays don’t have a particular moral,
but are written to show how a certain
type of individual would react under
certain circumstances or simple to
portray an interesting phase of life