150 likes | 498 Views
Drama. What Is Drama?. a drama/play is a story told through characters played by actors. What Is Drama?. Origins of Drama The word drama comes from the Greek verb dran, which means “to do.” The earliest known plays . . . were written around the fifth century B.C.
E N D
What Is Drama? a drama/play is a story told through characters played by actors
What Is Drama? • Origins of Drama • The word drama comes from the Greek verb dran, which means “to do.” • The earliest known plays . . . • were written around the fifth century B.C. • produced for festivals to honor Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility
Key Vocabulary • Playwright- the author of a play • Script- the written text from which a drama is produced • Stage directions- notes included in a play to describe how something should look, sound, or be performed • Dialogue- the speech of the actors in a play • Monologue- a speech given by one character
Key Vocab Continued • Act- a major part of a play • Scene- a short section of a literary work, one that happens in a single place and time • Props (short for properties)- items that the characters carry or handle onstage. • Spectacle- includes all the elements of the drama that are presented to the audience's senses • Mood- the mood of the scene; ex: romantic or happy • Setting- where the play takes place; ex: a sunny village, or a damp prison cell
Dramatic Structure Like the plot of a story, the plot of a play involves characters who face a problem or conflict. Climax point of highest tension;action determines how the conflict will be resolved Complications tension builds Resolution conflict is resolved; play ends Expositioncharacters and conflictare introduced
Dramatic Structure Conflict isa struggle or clash between opposing characters or forces. A conflict may develop . . . • between characters who want different things or the same thing • between a character and his or her circumstances • within a character who is torn by competing wants/needs
Modern Drama A modern play • may be tragedy, comedy, or a mixture of the two • usually focuses on personal issues • usually is about ordinary people
Performance of a Play When you read a play, remember that it is meant to be performed for an audience.
Setting the Stage Scene design transforms a bare stage into the world of the play. Scene design consists of • sets • lighting • costumes • props
Subtext • Subtext is the thoughts of a character as he/she speaks the words of the text. • When we imagine what a character is thinking outside of what the story tells us, it is called subtext. • In a drama, the subtext determine how a character will deliver his/her lines.
Example 1 "I finally found out where you've been and I now know what you've been up to."
Example 2 “Do you smell that?”
“You’ve got to be joking” Example 3