Elements of drama

ELEMENTS of ELEMENTS of DDrraammaa

A drama is a story enacted onstage for a live audience.

What Is Drama?What Is Drama?

Origins of Origins of DramaDramaThe word The word dramadrama comes comes from the from the Greek verb Greek verb dran, dran, which which means “to means “to do.”do.”

The earliest known The earliest known plays . . .plays . . .were written around were written around the fifth century B.C. the fifth century B.C.

produced for festivals produced for festivals to honor Dionysus.to honor Dionysus.

Like the plot of a story, the plot of a play involves characters who face a problem or conflict.

Dramatic StructureDramatic Structure

Climaxpoint of highest tension;action determines how the conflict will be resolved

Resolutionconflict is resolved;play ends

Complicationstension builds

Expositioncharacters and conflict are introduced

Dramatic StructureDramatic Structure ConflictConflict is is a a struggle or struggle or clash between clash between opposing opposing characters or characters or forces. A forces. A conflict may conflict may develop . . .develop . . .

between characters between characters who want different who want different things or the same things or the same thingthing

between a between a character and his or character and his or her circumstancesher circumstances

A tragedy is a play that ends unhappily.

• Tragedies pit human limitations against the larger forces of destiny.

right and wrong

justice and injustice

life and death

TragedyTragedy

• Most classic Greek tragedies deal with serious, universal themes such as

A comedy is a play that ends happily. The plot usually centers on a romantic conflict.

boy meets girl boy loses girl boy wins girl

ComedyComedy

A modern play

• usually is about ordinary people

• may be tragedy, comedy, or a mixture of the two

• usually focuses on personal issues

Modern DramaModern Drama

When you read a play, remember that it is meant to be performed.

Performance of a Performance of a PlayPlay

Stage DirectionsPlaywright describes setting and characters’ actions and manner.[Wyona is sitting on the couch. She sees Paul and jumps to her feet.]Wyona. [Angrily.] What do you want?

PerformancePerformanceTheater artists bring the Theater artists bring the

playwright’s vision to life playwright’s vision to life on the stage.on the stage.

The audience responds The audience responds to the play and shares to the play and shares the experience.the experience.

Performance of a PlayPerformance of a Play

Theater Theater artistsartists includeinclude

ActorsActors

DirectorsDirectors

Lighting Lighting technicianstechnicians

Stage crewStage crew

Scene design transforms a bare stage into the world of the play. Scene design consists of

•props

•sets•costumes

•lighting

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

A stage’s set might be

realistic and

detailed

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

abstract and

minimal

A lighting director skillfully uses light to change the mood and appearance of the set.

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

The costume director works with the director to design the actors’ costumes.• Like sets, costumes can be

detailed minimal

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

PropsProps are items that the characters are items that the characters carry or handle onstage.carry or handle onstage.

• The person in charge of props must The person in charge of props must make sure that the right props are make sure that the right props are available to the actors at the right available to the actors at the right moments.moments.

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

The characters’ speech may take any of the following forms.

The CharactersThe Characters

Dialogue:Dialogue: conversations of characters conversations of characters onstageonstage

Monologue:Monologue: long speech given by one long speech given by one character to otherscharacter to others

Soliloquy: Soliloquy: speech by a character alone speech by a character alone onstage to himself or herself or to the onstage to himself or herself or to the audienceaudience

Asides: Asides: remarks made to the audience or remarks made to the audience or to one character; the other characters to one character; the other characters onstage do not hear an asideonstage do not hear an aside

Finally, a play needs an audience toFinally, a play needs an audience to

experience the performance

understand the story

respond to the characters

The AudienceThe Audience

REAL LIFE REAL LIFE SITUATIONSSITUATIONS

Activities

1.1. Make a script of the Make a script of the assigned task to your assigned task to your group.group.

2.2. Get ready to dramatize it Get ready to dramatize it on December 11, 2013 on December 11, 2013 (Wednesday) in front of (Wednesday) in front of the class.the class.

Group 1: Group 1: Choosing Choosing between father and a between father and a boyfriend boyfriend 

Group 2: Group 2: Letting go Letting go a friend due to some a friend due to some conflictsconflicts

Group 3: Group 3: Deciding Deciding between a love one and a between a love one and a newly found faith/religionnewly found faith/religion

Group 4: Group 4: Deciding Deciding whether to live whether to live independently or to stay independently or to stay with parents after with parents after schoolingschooling