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Structure of a Play. AP English Lit. & Comp. Tools of Drama. Plot – the storyline and action of a play, developed primarily through dialogue Flashbacks – depictions of events that happened in the past. Foreshadowing – reveals action that may happen in the future. Element of Tragedy.
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Structure of a Play AP English Lit. & Comp.
Tools of Drama • Plot – the storyline and action of a play, developed primarily through dialogue • Flashbacks – depictions of events that happened in the past. • Foreshadowing – reveals action that may happen in the future.
Element of Tragedy • Tragedy – a serious subject involving important, essentially good people whose tragic flaw leads to pathos (suffering) and eventually their downfall. • The audience watching the drama experience pity that the event is happening, and fear that it might happen to them. This pity and fear leads to catharsis, or purging.
Structure - • Freytag Pyramid – • Outlined by German novelist and critic Gustav Freytag, this format features six conditions that all drama roughly follows. The key to this format is that the climax (point of no return) happens roughly in the middle of the play.
Exposition • In the initial part of the play, the playwright introduces the characters, situation, background, setting, and conflict. • This is often achieved through dialogue or through dramatic action.
Rising Action • After the play’s situation and characters have been introduced, the drama commences as characters face overwhelming difficulties. Conflicts build as characters strive toward some sort of resolution to their conflicts. Suspense builds and crises occur.
Dramatic Climax • This is the point of the most excitement and greatest action. The uncertainty and anxiety of the crisis leads to the climax, where the tension peaks.
Falling Action • The is the downward slope from the climax that forestalls the play’s end. Here issues are resolved.
Technical Climax • This is the point at which no other action is possible. This is a turning point. Here, conflicts find resolution, which lead to the inevitable conclusion.
Denouement • Literally “untying.” This is the tying up of loose ends that follows the final climax. Here the mysteries are solved, heroes validated, villains destroyed, and obstacles overcome. • In many tragedies, the restoration of order occurs in the concluding scenes.
