Elements Of Drama

Elements Of Drama

Learning Objectives

• Identify and describe the function of various dramatic elements.

• Review the elements of a good story:

  • Plot

  • Conflict

  • Basic situation

  • Complication

  • Climax

  • Resolution/denouement

• Engage in pair share to review the elements of plot.

Concept of Drama

• A play is a story acted out live and on stage, similar to any regular story that needs elements of plot.

  • Presents characters performed by real people.

  • Takes place in a physical setting with interactions before an audience.

Similarities between Stories and Plays

• Stories have:

  • Characters engaged in actions driven by conflict.

  • A structured plot.

• Plays also have:

  • Characters carrying out a series of actions.

  • Driven by conflict and structured plot.

• Pair share activity to discuss similarities.

Differences in Format

• Stories:

  • Prose narrative with narration describing characters, actions, and settings.

  • Character dialogue marked with quotation marks.

• Plays:

  • Comprised entirely of characters' dialogues and actions.

  • The playwright describes characters and settings, but these remain unheard by the audience.

  • The audience sees and hears only actors' interpretations.

• Pair share activity to discuss differences.

Elements of Drama

• The script for a play is akin to a blueprint; it guides the production but cannot convey the final experience until performed.

• A team of theatrical artists collaborates to realize the play.

Technical Workers in Drama

• Responsibilities include:

  • Designing and creating costumes, scenery, lighting, and makeup.

Types of Drama: Tragedy

• Tragedy involves serious and important actions that conclude unhappily.

• Often features a tragic hero:

  • Defined as a noble figure suffering due to a personal failing, leading to their downfall.

  • Examples: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet.

Tragic Hero Defined

• Character flaws can include excessive pride, ambition, or passion, leading to tragic consequences.

Character Foil

• A foil contrasts another character, highlighting their distinct qualities.

• In tragedies, foils accentuate a hero’s tragic flaw through opposite virtues.

• Examples of character foils:

  • Buddy-cop movies: Men in Black, 21 Jump Street, Bad Boys.

  • Literary examples: "Everyday Use" (Dee and Maggie), "Through the Tunnel" (Jerry and the big boys).

Dramatic Irony

• Occurs when the audience knows critical information that a character does not.

• Example: In Romeo and Juliet, the audience knows Juliet is drugged while her father believes she is dead.

Comedy in Drama

• A comedy concludes happily and is based on conflict, often romantic in nature.

• Typical scenario: a character desires to marry but faces an obstacle (e.g., disapproving parent).

• Obstacles lead to complications that are often absurd, but resolutions are reached.

Dramatic Conventions

• Drama follows conventions, including the script and stage directions:

  • The script comprises the spoken text and instructions for actors and designers.

Speaking the Part

• Dialogue: Conversations between characters.

• Monologue: Long speech by one actor to others.

• Soliloquy: Speech by a single actor alone on stage, expressing thoughts aloud.

• Used by playwrights to develop ideas and express emotions clearly.

Aside

• A brief dialogue directed to the audience or another character, unnoticed by others on stage.

Stage Directions

• Included in scripts, these directions explain the positioning of objects and guidance for actors' movements and speech.

Technical Elements in Drama

• Scenery (set): Equipment to create the environment (curtains, backdrops).

• Costumes: Clothing and accessories that define characters and the time period.

• Props: Moveable objects used in a performance (e.g., a telephone).

• Lighting: Placement and color to convey mood and environment.

• Sound: Audio effects for context and character.

• Makeup: Transformative elements to define character.