Elements of Drama

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key elements of drama—spectacles, dialogue, and music—from lecture notes.

Spectacles

Refers to everything the audience can see in a play, movie, or performance. These visual elements act as the visual language of a film and help tell the story without words.

Elements of Spectacle

Includes costumes, facial expressions, props, scenery or setting, gestures or body movements, and visual effects.

Dialogue

Conversation between characters that tells us what characters think, feel, and want, and helps move the story forward.

Character Traits (Dialogue)

A function of dialogue that shows what kind of person the character is (e.g., "I will help you even if no one else does" shows kindness).

Conflict (Dialogue)

A function of dialogue that shows disagreements and begins conflict (e.g., "; I don't agree with your decision").

Feelings (Dialogue)

A function of dialogue that expresses emotions (e.g., "I'm really praud of you." shows happiness).

Plot Development (Dialogue)

A function of dialogue that gives important information that changes the story (e.g., "the train leaves in Five minutes!" causes the characters to hurry).

Music

An element of drama that helps create emotion in a performance, without which many scenes would feel boring or less emotional.

Components of Music in Drama

Includes background music, instrumental music, and sound effects.

Functions of Music in Drama

Helps set the mood, create suspense, build excitement, and intensify emotions.

Spectacles

Everything the audience can see in a play, movie, or performance, which acts as the visual language of a film to help tell the story without words.

Components of Spectacles

Visual elements including costumes, facial expressions, props, scenery or setting, gestures or body movements, and visual effects.

Dialogue

Conversation between characters that tells what characters think, feel, and want, while helping to move the story forward.

Character Traits (in Dialogue)

A function of dialogue that shows what kind of person a character is, such as showing kindness with the line "I will help you even if no one else does."

Conflict (in Dialogue)

A function of dialogue that shows disagreements between characters, marking where conflict begins (e.g., "; don't agree with your decision").

Feelings (in Dialogue)

A function of dialogue that expresses emotions, such as showing happiness with the line "I'm really praud of you."

Plot Development (in Dialogue)

A function of dialogue that gives important information that changes the story, such as creating urgency with "the train leaves in Five minutes!"

Music

An element of drama that helps create emotion, consisting of background music, instrumental music, and sound effects.

Functions of Music in Drama

Helps set the mood, create suspense, build excitement, and intensify emotions, preventing scenes from feeling boring ore less emotional.