What Are the Elements of Drama?

What Are the Elements of Drama? Feature Menu Drama: A Story to Be Performed Elements of Drama Dialogue Stage Directions Your Turn

Drama: A Story to Be Performed Little children love to dress up in costumes and play “make believe.”

Drama: A Story to Be Performed They sing, dance, or defeat the bad guys. . . . They are heroes and villains.

Drama: A Story to Be Performed Drama allows us to “make believe”—to imaginatively step into characters’ shoes. We can visualize what the characters are doing, thinking, and feeling. As we read, we interpret their emotions.

Drama: A Story to Be Performed A drama is a story written to be performed by actors using speech and movements. You can also read and appreciate drama in written form. Dramatic action is usually driven by characters who want something strongly and take steps to get it. [End of Section]

Elements of Drama Elements common to most stories are also found in drama: SETTING PLOT CHARACTERS

Elements of Drama In drama, the related events that take place are separated into acts. Most plays have two or three acts, but there are many variations. Within acts are shorter sections called scenes.

Elements of Drama One of the playwright’s tasks is to introduce us to characters and setting. “Mr. and Mrs. Jones are not at home. Mrs. Jones has gone away with her daughter Daphne, and Mr. Jones has gone to live at the hotel.” In some older plays, this introduction is delivered by a character. From this character, we learn that all is not well at the Jones household.

Elements of Drama Structure of a Drama Conflict The plot of a drama features conflict, which is a struggle between opposing forces. • A clash between a character and an outside force is an external conflict. • A struggle that takes place in a character’s mind is an internal conflict.

Elements of Drama Structure of a Drama Complications As characters struggle with conflicts, more problems, or complications, arise.

Elements of Drama Structure of a Drama Climax The climax is the most exciting part of the play. The tension is at its peak because the conflict must be resolved. If a character has fallen into a ravine while training, we might hear the sound of search helicopters during the play’s climax.

Elements of Drama Structure of a Drama Resolution In the resolution,the major problems are more or less worked out. The dramatic question posed at the beginning of the play is answered. The character recovers from her fall into the ravine. Mr. and Mrs. Jones get back together.

Elements of Drama Structure of a Drama Plot The kind of plot diagramthat helps us understand the action in a story also helps us track events in a drama. 3.Climax complicating events 2.Complications 1.Introduction 1.Introduction 4. Resolution

Quick Check Elements of Drama Read the plot summary. Then, identify where the dialogue below it fits in the plot. • This dialogue most likely comes from the • A. introduction • B. climax • C. resolution An athlete hoping to qualify for the triathlon goes rock climbing and falls. Paula.(jogging in place; cell phone to ear) I know, Mom. It’ll be hard, but I’ve got to try. Mrs. Lane. Well, be careful, Paula. Don’t do any rock climbing on your own. Paula. Gotta go, Mom. I’ll probably just jump on my bike after I finish my run.

Quick Check Elements of Drama Read the plot summary. Then, identify where the dialogue below it fits in the plot. 2.This dialogue most likely comes from the A. introduction B. climax C. resolution An athlete hoping to qualify for the triathlon goes rock climbing and falls. Mrs. Lane. Dr. Garza says you’re just dehydrated, sweetie, but—. Paula. I know, Mom. You don’t want me to go on with this triathlon idea. Mrs. Lane.(sighing) As long as you call me every minute to let me know you’re okay. Either that or I’ll just jog with you!

Quick Check Elements of Drama Given this plot summary, what two complications are realistic and most likely to develop? An athlete hoping to qualify for the triathlon goes rock climbing and falls. • Her cell phone breaks in the fall. • A beam of light shining into the ravine is from an alien spacecraft. • In the fading daylight, fewer people pass by to hear her cries for help. • She suddenly remembers that the deadline to enter the triathlon is past. [End of Section]

Dialogue Short Story vs. Drama At last the disagreement between Mr. and Mrs. Jones was settled. They promised never to argue again. Margie. Let’s never argue again, darling. Wilbur. No, my dear. Never. Which example is from a story? Which one is from a play? How can you tell?

Dialogue Short Story vs. Drama In a short story, dialogue In a play, dialogue Is solely responsible for revealing a character’s personality Carries the story forward Is a conversation between two or more characters Partly reveals a character’s personality

Dialogue Dialogue Tags In the written form of a play, dialogue appears without quotation marks. Charlene.(after Angie nudges her) You’re not mad at us, are you, Don? Don. (dropping a book) No way. How could I be mad? Angie. Charlene and I have just been wondering. . . . It’s like you’re giving us the silent treatment lately. That’s all.

Dialogue Monologue Playwrights may also use monologue. A monologue occurs when only one character speaks for a while. Often, monologues reveal the true thoughts and feelings of characters. Don. (only partly serious) To be or not to be interested in two girls at the same time. Whether I should ask one out, or just remain friends with both . . . that is my question.

Quick Check Dialogue 1. What might Don think Charlene is about to say? Act Two, scene 3Friends, After All Don.(Charlene comes up to his locker.) Hi. Better stand back. Books are flying all over today. Charlene. Happens to me all the time. Hey, Don? (He fumbles with books.) You wouldn’t think it was weird, would you, if a friend started, well, liking a friend—more than liking—would you? Don. No way! Charlene. Good, that’s what I told Angie. She’s got a bad crush on both guys at her lab table. 2. What motives might be behind Charlene’s question? [End of Section]

Stage Directions Dialogue from a drama may have italicized words and phrases contained within parentheses. Charlene.(after Angie nudges her) You’re not mad at us, are you, Don? Don. (dropping a book)No, way. How could I be mad? Angie. Charlene and I have just been wondering. It’s like you’re giving us the silent treatment lately; that’s all. Charlene.(after Angie nudges her) You’re not mad at us, are you, Don? Don. (dropping a book) No, way. How could I be mad? Angie. Charlene and I have just been wondering. It’s like you’re giving us the silent treatment lately; that’s all. These are stage directions. They are not meant to be spoken. They tell actors what to do or how to say their lines.

Stage Directions For the actors—and for a reader—stage directions help explain the meaning of certain lines. What do these stage directions show about Charlene? Charlene.(after Angie nudges her) You’re not mad at us, are you, Don? Because Angie has to nudge Charlene to get her to ask Don the question, Charlene probably doesn’t want to have this conversation. Charlene may need or rely on Angie’s support in uncomfortable situations.

Stage Directions For the actors—and for a reader—stage directions help explain the meaning of certain lines. What do these stage directions show about Don? Don. (dropping a book) No, way. How could I be mad? Don appears to be surprised. He also may be clumsier than he is usually, perhaps because he has feelings for one or both of the girls. It’s unlikely that he’s angry.

Stage Directions When you read a play, be alert to the stage directions. When you watch a play, pay attention to the action in general and to specific actors’ movements. Stage directions are important elements of drama: They convey a great deal of information about meaning.

Quick Check Stage Directions What might these stage directions help you understand about Don’s problem or frame of mind? Act Two, scene 3Friends, After All Don.(Charlene comes up to his locker.) Hi. Better stand back. Books are flying all over today. Charlene. Happens to me all the time. Hey, Don? (He fumbles with books.) You wouldn’t think it was weird, would you, if a friend started, well, liking a friend—more than liking—would you? Don. No way! Charlene. Good. That’s what I told Angie. She’s got a bad crush on both guys at her lab table. [End of Section]

Your Turn Analyze Elements of Drama • 1. Imagine you are acting in a play. Explain how you would know which dialogue is yours and how you should speak your lines. • 2. List one similarity and one difference between a drama and a short story.

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What Are the Elements of Drama?