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.

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.

THE END