Conventions of Drama

1. Conventions of Drama Listen carefully for the answers to each fill-in-the-blank statement.

2. Drama • One of the oldest forms of literature • One of the last literary genres (types) to develop in the U.S. • The Puritans did not appreciate drama; plays were frivolous (silly and unnecessary)

3. Drama: 2 Main Types • Tragedy: recounts (tells about) the downfall of the main character • Comedy: light and humorous, ends happily

4. Drama: Plot • introduces events and character interactions • 5 stages: • Exposition: provides necessary background info • Rising action: conflict develops • Climax: turning point; height of intensity • Falling action: action leading up to resolution • Resolution:how the plot is wrapped up • Conflict: struggle between opposing forces

5. Drama: Structure • Action is divided into two parts: • Acts • Scenes: smaller sections within acts.

6. Drama: Characters • Protagonist: main character • Antagonist: opposes the protagonist • This leads to conflict • Foil:minor character who acts as a contrast to another character. • Cast of characters: list of names at the beginning of the play

7. Drama: Speech Devices • Dialogue: conversation between characters • How we learn about everything in a play like plot details, characters, etc. • Other Speech Devices: • Monologue: long speech spoken by a single character to the audience or another character • Soliloquy: speech in which a character speaks her/his own thoughts aloud, unheard by other characters • Aside: short speech delivered to the audience but not heard by other characters who are present

8. Drama: Stage and Setting • Stage Directions: • Italicized instructions • Provide details about: setting, props, lighting, scenery, sound effects, costumes • Describe: • entrances and exits of characters • how characters look, speak, and react to events and other characters