1. Introduction to Drama
Mr. Jeffery Boggan

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: Deals 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