Elements of Drama DramaDrama A story that is intended to be performed for an audience, either on stage or before a camera. You may see dramas on television,

Elements Elements of Dramaof Drama

DramDramaaDramDramaa A story that is A story that is

intended to be intended to be performed for an performed for an audience, either on audience, either on stage or before a stage or before a camera. You may camera. You may see dramas on see dramas on television, at the television, at the movies, in videos, movies, in videos, and on the stage.and on the stage.

A story that is A story that is intended to be intended to be performed for an performed for an audience, either on audience, either on stage or before a stage or before a camera. You may camera. You may see dramas on see dramas on television, at the television, at the movies, in videos, movies, in videos, and on the stage.and on the stage.

The Monsters Are The Monsters Are Due on Maple StreetDue on Maple Street is a is a teleplayteleplay that that was shown on was shown on television.television.

A Christmas A Christmas CarolCarol has been has been adapted as a adapted as a stage playstage play..

ScripScripttScripScripttThe special form in which The special form in which drama is written. drama is written.

It differs from the dialogue in It differs from the dialogue in a short story in that the lines a short story in that the lines are written out for the are written out for the characters to speak rather characters to speak rather than being written with than being written with quotation marks and tag lines.quotation marks and tag lines.

ShorShort t

StorStoryy

““It’s the monster! It’s the It’s the monster! It’s the monster!” Tommy shouted in fright.monster!” Tommy shouted in fright.

““We may need this,” Don stated We may need this,” Don stated holding up his shotgun.holding up his shotgun.

““A shotgun?” Steve A shotgun?” Steve questioned as he pulled the gun out questioned as he pulled the gun out of Don’s hand.of Don’s hand.

DramDramaa

Tommy Tommy (shouting, frightened). (shouting, frightened). It’s It’s the monster! It’s the monster!the monster! It’s the monster!

Don. Don. We may need this.We may need this.

Steve. Steve. A shotgun? (A shotgun? (He pulls it out He pulls it out of of Don’sDon’s hand.) hand.)

(Don Martin (Don Martin joins them, carrying a joins them, carrying a shotgun. He holds it up.)shotgun. He holds it up.)

PloPlottPloPlottAs in short stories, the As in short stories, the plotplot of a drama is a of a drama is a sequence of related sequence of related events.events.

As in short stories, the As in short stories, the plotplot of a drama is a of a drama is a sequence of related sequence of related events.events.

The plot begins withThe plot begins withexpositioexposition.n.

Then it moves through Then it moves through the the actioactio

nnin which there is a in which there is a seriesseriescomplicatiocomplicatio

nsnsin the in the conflictconflict

.. TheThe climaclimaxx

is the point of is the point of highest highest tension or the turning point tension or the turning point

of the plot.of the plot.

It is followed by theIt is followed by the falling falling actionactionor resolution.or resolution.

risinrisingg

of of

ScenScenee

ScenScenee

A section A section presenting events presenting events that occur in one that occur in one place at one time.place at one time.

ActActActActA major section of A major section of a play made up of a play made up of more than one more than one scene.scene.

The The majormajor and and minorminor characterscharacters are listed at are listed at the beginning of the the beginning of the script. The cast of script. The cast of characters often characters often includes a short includes a short description next to description next to each character’s name.each character’s name.

Cast of CharactersCast of Characters

Cast of CharactersCast of CharactersSometimes a Sometimes a narratornarrator sets the sets the scene for the drama scene for the drama and comments on and comments on what happens.what happens.

Stage Stage DirectionsDirectionsStage Stage DirectionsDirectionsInstructions for the director, Instructions for the director, the actors, and the stage the actors, and the stage crew. crew.

They are usually printed in They are usually printed in italic type and enclosed in italic type and enclosed in parentheses. parentheses.

Stage directions tell Stage directions tell actorsactorshow to speak and how to speak and

move.move.

They describe the They describe the sceneryscenery,,items on the stageitems on the stage that that

create the setting.create the setting.

Sometimes they make Sometimes they make suggestions suggestions for for

lighting and lighting and sound.sound.

Stage directions will refer to Stage directions will refer to

They also describe They also describe thethe

propsprops,,which are the objects the which are the objects the

actors use during the actors use during the play.play.

special areasspecial areasof the stage.of the stage.

Additional notes

• Science fiction – literature that involves scientific data, theories, and technology, often set in the future

• Suspense – feeling of anxious uncertainty about the outcome of events in a literary work

• Theme – central message, concern, or purpose of a literary work

Additional notes

• Tone – writer’s attitude toward the readers and toward the subject of the writing

• Author’s purpose – to entertain, inform, influence, express

• ..\Author's purpose.doc

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stage stage leftleft

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leftleft

orchestra pitorchestra pit

wingswings(off (off

stage)stage)

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stage)stage)upstagupstagee

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