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Elements of Drama. What is Drama?. Drama is a story told in dialogue by performers in front of an audience . Playwright. The author of a play is called a playwright . Actors. Actors perform the play in front of an audience. Units of Action. Acts are the units of action in a drama.
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What is Drama? • Drama is a story told in dialogue by performers in front of an audience.
Playwright • The author of a play is called a playwright.
Actors • Actors perform the play in front of an audience.
Units of Action • Acts are the units of action in a drama. • Acts are often divided into smaller parts called scenes.
Characterization • Just as in other forms of writing, the playwright must develop believable characters.
Dramatic Speech • Very important because it advances the action. • Two types of dramatic speech: • Monologue • Dialogue
Monologue • Monologue is a long speech that is spoken by a single character. • It often reveals a character’s private thoughts and feelings.
Dialogue • A conversation between or among characters.
Stage Directions • Bracketed information that describes the scenery and how the characters should move and speak. • Ex. Scrooge: Bah! Humbug! [Scrooge snuffs out his candle.] Christmas! Bah! Humbug!
Theater • A theater is a place where plays are presented for an audience.
Set or Scenery • Set is the term used for the construction on the stage that suggests the time and place of the action. • Scenery is another word for set.
Props • Props are small movable items (such as a notebook or a broom) that the actors use to make their actions look realistic.
Costumes • Costumes help the playwright convey details about the characters and the setting.
Types of Drama • Comedy • Tragedy • Drama
Comedy • Comedy has a happy ending. • It often features normal characters in funny situations. • Usually written to entertain. • Sometimes point out faults of society.
Tragedy • Tragedy is often contrasted with comedy. • The events of a tragedy lead to the downfall of the main character. • This character is often of great significance, like a king.
Drama • A drama is a play that addresses a serious subject.
Other Types of Dramatic Writing • Screenplays are scripts for films or television. They include camera angles and allow for more scene changes. • Radio plays were written to be performed as radio broadcasts. They included sound effects, but they required no set, stage, or directions to explain movement.
