1. Theatre 1
Vocabulary Words

2. What is Drama? To do or to act
A form of literature in which the actions and speech of characters tell the story
To be most effective, it should be performed by actors in the presence of an audience.

3. Aristotle
Greek Philosopher ( BCE) who first identified what drama was in his work The Poetics
Identified Genres of Drama
Identified Elements of Drama

4. Genre Type 1 - Tragedy Has a tone of fear or dread
Reflects man’s philosophy on life
Example: Romeo & Juliet

5. Genre Type 2 - Comedy Shows man in amusing social relationships
Does not attempt to moralize
Example: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

6. Genre Type 3 - Melodrama Forces of good and evil are exaggerated
Examples:
The “good guy” wears white
The villain (Darth Vader) represents evil and wears black

7. Element 1 - Plot Arrangement of the events in a play
The action of the plot develops through the behavior and speech of the characters
The dialogue of the plot brings it to life
Human emotions and experiences are woven into the plot

8. Element 2 - Character The agents of the plot.
Characters provide the motivations  (reasons) for the events of the plot.

9. Element 3 – Theme/Thought
Thought or main idea of the play
Sometimes it can be said in one word: revenge, greed, vanity
Sometimes it’s a moral: “Be careful of what you wish for” or “Stay away from strangers”

10. Element 4 – Language/Diction
The words and language used in a play.
Gives information, reveals characters and themes through words.
Establishes mood/tone.
Style of language appropriate to characters (Shakes-peare - nobility speak poetry, peasants speak prose).

11. Element 5 – Sound/Rhythm
When Aristotle wrote his Poetics, nearly all plays had music. Either the actors sang many of their lines, or they acted with musical accompaniment.
What the play sounds like – voices, music, sound effects, rhythms, tempos.
Helps establish mood, characters, and creates variety.

12. Elements of Spectacle The visual elements of a play. Scenery Lighting
Makeup
Props
Costumes
Stage/space