1. Dialogue: tells the story Soliloquy- a long speech expressing private thoughts, delivered by a character who is ALONE onstage Monologue- a long speech delivered by one character to another or to a group of characters Aside- a private remark to one character to the audience that breaks convention because it is understood NOT TO BE HEARD by other characters onstage Chorus- single character or group whose words may connect scenes or convey the collective thoughts of feelings of the community (usually limited to classical drama) ELEMENTS OF DRAMA

2. Stage directions: help the cast and production staff to bring the text to life Usually about the setting costumes, lighting, scenery, and props, or objects used onstage. May include how and when the characters should move and deliver their lines Usually printed in italics and sometimes set in brackets or parentheses. ELEMENTS OF DRAMA

3. Tragedies end with the downfall or death of the protagonist Key elements include: Tragic hero: In ancient Greek and Shakespearean tragedy, the tragic hero is the main character- a person of high rank whose downfall is caused by his own flawed behavior. Tragic flaw: a part of the hero’s character that leads him to make a fatal mistake Comic relief: humorous scenes often included to relieve tension; Shakespeare used people from the lower class to fulfill this role. KINDS OF DRAMA

4. Comedy- show ordinary people in conflict with society. Conflicts in this category typically arise out of a misunderstanding, deception, disapproving authority figures, and mistaken identities. They are ALWAYS resolved happily. Some comedic protagonists are outlandish, while others are sympathetic and likable There are two forms of comedy: Romantic comedy: involves problems among lovers Comedy of manners: satirizes social customs of society KINDS OF DRAMA CONT’D

5. Before the playhouses were built, plays took place in the open, often in courtyards or inns. Spectators watched from the streets or balconies. The first theater was built by James Burbage, and it was called The Theater. Initially, the theater attracted the “common man,” not the aristocracy. In 1597, The Theater closed down, but in 1598, Richard Burbage and his men dismantled it, carried it across the Thames River, and rebuilt it, naming it the Globe. It could seat between 2,500 and 3,000 spectators. The Globe was closed by the Puritans in 1642. THE ELIZABETHAN THEATER