1. Elements of Drama
Structures of Text

2. Term Definition Example
drama
a story that is acted out in front of people, or an audience.
play, puppet show, song, dance
(Little Red Riding Hood)
characters
who will be appearing in the play
Narrator 1, Narrator 2, Narrator 3, Narrator 4, Little Red, Mother, Wolf, Grandmother, Huntsman
setting
where and when the play takes place (there may be more than one setting)
village, woods, path, grandmothers cottage,
dialogue
what characters say in a drama
Wolf: “Where does your grandmother live, Little Red Riding Hood?”
scene
the action that takes place in a single setting
Little Red Riding Hood’s mother sending her off to grandmothers

3. Term Definition Example
script
the text of a play, including the dialogue the actors speak and stage directions
cast of characters, stage directions, dialogue
stage directions
specific instructions from the playwright about how the play should be staged and performed
Wolf (speaks in a high pitch tone): “The better to eat you with”
tragedy
a serious drama that has an unhappy ending
Romeo and Juliet
comedy
a drama that is often funny and has a happy ending
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
theme
the message, moral, lesson of the story
be cautious with strangers