Elements of Drama

1. Elements of Drama

2. Author of a play Playwright

3. People who perform a play Actors

4. Sets of actors that perform a play Cast

5. Text of a play, with dialogue and directions for actors Script

6. Units of action in a drama. Acts are divided up into scenes. Acts

7. Small parts of an act. • Most of the time they each have a different setting. Scenes

8. Playwright’s technique for creating believable characters Characterization

9. Advances the stories action. • Most important • Two types: Dialogue and Monologue Dramatic Speech

10. Conversation between or among characters Dialogue

11. Long speech that is spoken by a single character. • Often reveals a character’s private thoughts and actions Monologue

12. Sets of bracketed information that describe the scenery and how the characters should move and speak • Some playwrights use abbreviations • Center Stage – C • Stage Left – L • Stage Right – R • Upstage or rear of stage – U • Downstage – front of stage Stage Directions

13. Upstage Center Stage Left Stage Right Downstage Audience Stage Directions

14. Construction on the stage that suggests the time and place of the action • Scenery is another word for it Set

15. Small movable items that the actors use to make their actions look realistic Props

16. 4 Types • Comedy • Tragedy • Drama Types of Drama

17. Form of drama that often features everyday characters in funny situations Comedy

18. Events lead to the downfall of the main characters • Character can be an average person, but is often a person of great significance Tragedy

19. A word that is often used to describe plays that address serious subjects Drama

20. Scripts for films. • Includes camera angles and can allow for more scene changes than a play Screenplays

21. Scripts written for television • Similar to screenplays Teleplay

22. Written to be performed as radio broadcasts • Include sound effects and require no set, stage or directions that explain movement. Radio Plays

23. What details in the paragraph beginning “I heard the clink…” let the readers know that Red Rabbit is a horse? Question 1

24. I got up on the seat and almost bowled Uncle over. For once Uncle did not worry about his dignity but caught me up and returned my hug. “Ouch,” he said, and pushed me away. He patted himself lightly on his chest. “I’m not as young as I used to be.” • What do these lines tell us about the character and personality of uncle? Question 2

25. “But you don’t believe in flying machines.” “I still don’t,” Uncle said sternly. “But I still feel as if I Owe you something for what was done to you by that man who once was my son. I’ll be there to haul your machine up the hill, and I’ll be there to haul it back down when it doesn’t fly” “We were all getting fat anyway,” White deer said, “especially Uncle.” • Why do you think it would be easy for the author to adapt this portion of the excerpt from prose into drama? Question 3

26. Miss Whitlaw: I could have gotten down from the wagon by myself. Uncle Bright Star: Watch gopher hole. Miss Whitlaw: I’m younger than you. • What do you learn about the characters Miss Whitlaw and Uncle Bright Star based on these three short lines? Question 1

27. Author’s Insight - The friendly competition between Uncle Bright Star and Miss Whitlaw wasn’t in the novel but it was developed with the actors. • What does the competition between Uncle Bright Star and Miss Whitlaw add to the drama? Question 2

28. Left-Handed Compliment – a compliment that is partly an insult • Uncle Bright Star: And I’ll haul that thing back down when it doesn’t fly. Red Rabbit and me were getting fat anyway. But look at how tall you’ve grown. And how thin. And ragged. (pause) But you haven’t broken your neck which was more than I ever expected. • Which sentence in Uncle Bright Star’s sentences is a left-handed compliment and how did you recognize it as one? Question 3

29. Look at the picture on page 730, does this hill look steep enough to launch Dragonwings? Question 4

30. Windrider: Take the ropes. [Pantomimes taking a rope over his shoulder as he faces the audience.] Got a good grip? Others:[Pantomiming taking the ropes.] Yes, right, etc. • Why is it necessary for the author to include these stage directions? Question 5

31. Uncle Bright Star:[Imitating the intonation of the Cantonese.] Push, push. Work, work. • Why do you think the author wanted the actors to use the Cantonese accent with these lines? Question 6

32. Author’s Insight: We needed to establish the hilltop was flat so I had them trample the grass; but the actors had such a good time doing it that I put it into the stage direction. • What does the last part of the author’s insight mean? • Why, realistically, do you think grass would need to be stamped down in front of the plane on the flat hilltop? Question 7&8

33. Moon Shadow: Father, you did it. [Wonderingly.] You did it. • What about this line shows Moon Shadow helped his father because of duty rather than because he believed his father would actually fly? Question 9

34. Windrider: Uncle says he’ll make me a partner if I stay. So the western officials would have to change my immigration class. I’d be a merchant, and the merchants can bring their wives here. Would you like to send for Mother? • What thoughts and feelings do Windrider’s words reveal to the audience? Question 10