Types of Drama

COMEDY

• Definition:

  • Light play in nature.

  • Creates a very funny and happy ambiance, making the audience relax.

  • Energetic in nature.

  • Always has a happy ending.

• Example:

  • "As You Like It" by William Shakespeare.

SIGNIFICANCE OF COMEDY

• Purpose:

  • Comedy tends to bring humor and induce laughter in plays, films, and theatre.

  • The primary function is to amuse and entertain the audience.

• Social Commentary:

  • Portrays social institutions and persons as corrupt, ridiculing them through:

  • Satirizing

  • Parodying

  • Poking fun at vices

  • Exposes the foibles and follies of individuals and society through comic elements.

TRAGEDY

• Definition:

  • Serious play in nature.

  • Deals with problems as themes.

  • Creates a strong mood of unhappiness and sadness among the audience.

  • Always has a sad ending.

• Example:

  • "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare.

SIGNIFICANCE OF TRAGEDY

• Aristotle's Definition:

  • First full definition in Poetics.

  • Tragedy must involve a reversal of fortunes for a powerful person from good to bad, due to the hamartia of the protagonist.

  • Must create a sense of fear and pity in the viewer, leading to catharsis.

• Modern Perspective:

  • Dramatists like Arthur Miller suggest tragedy can portray the common person, allowing viewers to relate and feel more fear and pity.

MELODRAMA

• Origin:

  • The prefix "melo-" comes from the Greek word melos, meaning melody.

  • Originally a stage play with orchestral accompaniment and interspersed songs.

• Characteristics:

  • Judgmental drama where good invariably triumphs over evil.

  • Commonly portrayed characters:

  • Noble hero

  • Suffering heroine

  • Evil villain

  • Dialogue and costumes are presented in a larger-than-life manner.

• Example:

  • "Ruined" is a play by Lynn Nottage.

SIGNIFICANCE OF MELODRAMA

• Musical Elements:

  • Comprises "music drama" where music is used to amplify emotions or signify characters.

• Genre Characteristics:

  • Exaggerates plot and characters to appeal emotionally.

FARCE

• Definition:

  • A play characterized purely by funny elements, devoid of human values.

  • Primarily funny and hilarious in nature.

  • Main objective is the entertainment of the audience.

• Example:

  • "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde.

SIGNIFICANCE OF FARCE

• Purpose:

  • The basic purpose is to evoke laughter.

  • Found in theatre, films, and sometimes in other literary forms.

• Features:

  • Combines stereotypical characters and exaggeration to create humor.

  • Often includes improbable coincidences and mocks human weaknesses and societal flaws.

FANTASY

• Characteristics:

  • Contrasts positive and negative powers.

  • Incorporates fairy tale traits.

  • Showcases magic or powers lacking scientific verification.

  • Utilizes mental powers or undiscovered technologies.

• Example:

  • "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare.

SIGNIFICANCE OF FANTASY

• Genre Elements:

  • Portrays characters in medieval settings with elements associated with medieval legends, such as:

  • Kings

  • Queens

  • Princesses

  • Dragons

  • Knights

  • Unicorns

• Imaginative Impact:

  • Fuels imagination and satisfies longings for adventure.

  • Important for enhancing the imaginative capacity in developing minds.