English

**Drama**

an imitation of life

**Drama**

the mother of all arts

**Drama**

to inform, educate, entertain

PLAY

The text

PLAYWRIGHT

the writer

**Drama**

comes from the greek word “dran”

dran

to act or to perform

**Mimetic Theory**

comes from the Greek word "mimesis,"

mimesis

means imitation and representation

**Mimetic Theory**

states that people are influenced by each other and the world around them, when creating, in many different ways

**Drama**

a reflection of the past events, reflects human experiences.

Soliloquy

a speech in which a character who is on stage reveals private thoughts and feelings to the audience

Drama Origins

GREECE or EGYPT

Drama Origins

ritual done in honor of Dionysius- the god of vegetation through a choral song called Dithyramb

Thespis

believed to be the first person to introduce the individual actor and the element of impersonation in the 6th B.C

Aeschylus

introduced the second actor

Sophocles

added the third actor and further enlarged the scope of dramatist

Aristotle

outlined the six elements of drama

__**Thought/Theme/Ideas**__

the abstract issues and feelings that grow out of the dramatic action

__**Action/Plot**__

The events of a play

__**Action/Plot**__

the story

**Elements of the plot** 

**Rising Action**

**Conflict**

**Falling action**

**Resolution / Denouement**

Conflict

the opposition of forces which ties one incident to another and makes the plot move

Conflict

any form of opposition that faces the main character

physical

Man vs. Man

physical

The leading character struggles with his physical strength against other men, or animals

classical

Man vs. Circumstances

classical

The leading character struggles against fate, or the circumstances of life facing him/her

social

Man vs. Society

social

The leading character struggles against ideas, practices, or customs of other people

psychological

Man vs. Himself/Herself

psychological

* The leading character struggles with himself/herself; with his/her own soul, ideas of right or wrong, physical limitations, choices, etc.

__**Language/dialogue/diction**__

The word choices made by the playwright and the enunciation of the actors of the language

__**Music/Rhythm**__

encompass the rhythm of dialogue and speeches in a play or can also mean the aspects of the melody and music compositions as with musical theatre

__**Spectacle**__

involve all of the aspects of scenery, costumes, and special effects in a production

__**Tragedy**__

Shows the downfall and destruction of the main character

__**Tragedy Characteristic**__

Characters become isolated or there is social breakdown

__**Tragedy Characteristic**__

Ends in death

__**Tragedy Characteristic**__

There is a sense that events are inevitable or inescapable

__**Tragedy Characteristic**__

usually a central figure who is noble but with a character flaw which leads them towards their eventual downfall

Comedy

intended to interest and amuse the audience

Comedy Characteristic

Frequent use of puns and other styles of comedy

Comedy Characteristic

Family tensions that are usually resolved in the end

Comedy Characteristic

A clever servant

Comedy Characteristic

Mistaken identities, often involving disguise

Comedy Characteristic

A struggle of young lovers to overcome problems

Comedy Characteristic

element of separation and reunification

History Plays

Based on Monarchy

__**Tragicomedy/black comedy**__

blends aspects of both __tragic__ and __comic__ forms

__**Tragicomedy/black comedy**__

variously describe either a tragic play which contains enough comic elements to lighten the overall mood or, often, a serious play with a happy ending

Aside

brief remark delivered by a character to express private thoughts while other characters are onstage

Stage Direction

written instruction on the entrances and exits of characters in a play, as well as the movements they make during the scene

Dramatis Personae

a lists of characters in a play, usually found on the first page of the script

Tragic Hero

a character of high repute, who because of a tragic flaw and fate, suffers fall from glory into tragedy.

Tragic flaw

A weakness or limitation of character, resulting in the fall of the tragic hero

Comic Relief

Humorous episode/s in a play that is mainly tragic.