Elements of Drama Literature E Shaw and R

Elements of Drama Literature E. Shaw and R. Conner

What is a Drama? 0 A Drama, or a play is a story written to be performed by actors. 0 It features Characters, conflicts and a plot. 0 Dialogue: speech of the characters; tells the story; voice of the narrator.

Drama 0 Acts or scenes are the basic units of drama. 0 A drama can consist of one or more acts which can contain any number of scenes. 0 Playwright: Author of a play; writes the script. 0 Script: The text of the play; contains the dialogue and stage directions.

Stage Directions 0 Stage Directions tell how the work is supposed to be performed or staged. 0 Provides details about the set, lighting, sound effects, props, costumes, and acting. 0 Often printed in italics and are bracketed. 0 Example: O. S means off stage, D. S means downstage or closer to the audience

Sets and Props 0 Sets: The constructions that set the scene for the drama. 0 They can represent the historical period of the play or just simply the mood or theme. 0 A set may include: painted backdrops, frames, or trap doors. 0 Props are movable objects like swords or pens that actors use onstage.

Dramatic Effect & Theme 0 All the elements of drama combine in a performance to produce the vivid illusion of reality known as the Dramatic Effect. 0 Through this effect, the dramatist explores a theme, or a insight into life.

Types of Drama 0 Ancient Greeks developed drama. 0 They created two types of plays: Tragedy and Comedy. 0 A Tragedy shows the downfall or death of a tragic hero, the main character. 0 A Comedy has a happy ending, usually after and amusing series of predicaments.

More Tragedy 0 In ancient Greek drama, the hero was the outstanding person brought down by a tragic flaw. 0 Tragic Flaw: A mistaken action or defect in the character. 0 Greek tragedy included a chorus, or a group of performers who commented on the action.

Comedy 0 While comedy has a happy ending and emphasizes human greatness, tragedy stresses the weaknesses of ordinary people or of society itself.

Dialogue 0 Helps develop characters and further the plot. 0 In addition to dialogue involving conversations between two or more characters, dramatists use these types of Dramatic Speech: monologue, soliloquy, and aside.

Types of Dramatic Speeches 0 Monologue: a long, uninterrupted speech delivered by a character to other character onstage but remain quiet. Example: Romeo’s speech to Juliet 0 Soliloquy: a speech in which a character who is usually alone on stage reveals private thoughts that the audience is allowed to overhear. 0 Aside: a brief remark in which a character expresses private thoughts to the audience rather than to the characters.

TYPES OF CHARACTERS Protagonist- the character the story revolves around. Antagonist- the character or force that opposes the protagonist. Minor Character- the character that often provides support and illuminates the protagonist.

TYPES OF CHARACTERS Flat/Static Character- A character that remains the same. Round/Dynamic Character- A character that changes in some important way due to the conflict of the plot.

CHARACTERIZATION Characterization� The act of creating and developing a character. Direct Characterization� The author directly states a character’s traits. Indirect Characterization. The author provides clues about a character by describing what a character looks like, does, and says, as well as how other characters react to him or her. � The more effective indirect characterizations usually result from what the characters do or speak. �

ELEMENTS OF PLOT 1) Exposition- Background information regarding the setting, characters, conflict. 2) Rising Action- The process the story follows as the main conflict builds. 3) Climax- the high point of interest or suspense. 4) Falling Action- the events that occur because of the climax. 5) Denouement/Resolution- the resolution of the story. 3 2 1 4 5

MORE ELEMENTS OF PLOT Foreshadowing- When the writer clues the reader in to something that will eventually occur in the story; it may be explicit (obvious) or implied (disguised). Suspense- The tension that the author uses to create a feeling of discomfort about the unknown.

TYPES OF CONFLICT Man versus Man� One character struggles against another character. Man versus Nature� When a character must overcome some natural obstacle or condition, a conflict with nature occurs. Man versus Society�A struggle against society occurs when a character is at odds with a particular social force or condition produced by society, such as poverty, political revolution, a social convention, or set of values. Man versus Self� Within a character, aspects of his or her personality may struggle for dominance. These aspects may be emotional, intellectual, or moral.

IRONY Irony- the difference between appearance and reality (what is expected and what actually happens). � Verbal Irony- words are used to create the opposite of what is meant. (Similar to sarcasm) � Dramatic Irony- there is a contradiction between what a character thinks and what the audience knows to be true. � Situational Irony- an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters or audience.

PUN A pun is a humorous play on words. � Mercutio – “Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance. ” Romeo – “Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes / With nimble soles; I have a soul of lead…” (Act I Sc. � A carpenter must have been here. I saw dust. � Energizer Bunny arrested - charged with battery.

DRAMATIC FOIL Dramatic Foil: A pair of characters who are opposite in many ways and highlight or exaggerate each other’s differences.

IAMBIC PENTAMETER Iambic Pentameter �iambic Iamb is a foot of poetry with one unstressed syllable followed by stressed syllable. �pentameter( 5 “feet” to a line) ends up to be 10 syllable lines Example: When to the sessions of sweet silent thought I summon up remembrance of things past

BLANK VERSE Much of R & J is written in Blank Verse: Blank Verse is unrhymed Iambic Pentameter �unrhymed verse

HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND William Shakespeare � Born in 1564 to John and Mary Arden Shakespeare � Married to Anne Hathaway in 1582 � Established in London as actor/playwright from 15871592. His first work was Comedy of Errors. � Begins writing sonnets in 1593. � 1594 -1596: Wrote more famous plays such as Romeo and Juliet and Midsummer Night’s Dream. � April 23, 1616 Shakespeare dies.

THE TIME PERIOD Elizabethan Era � The reign of Queen Elizabeth I. She was a protestant leader who loved theater. The Renaissance � Rebirth of art and literature that made Shakespeare's work possible! Actors were men only Men even played female roles! Plays were one of the main source of entertainment

THE GLOBE THEATER Round/polygonal building with a roofless courtyard No artificial light (natural light only) Three stories high – upper levels were for the wealthy The “groundlings” paid a penny a piece to stand on the floor in front of the stage (800 people) Large platform stage Back of platform was curtained off inner stage Two door entrances/exits on either side of curtain Small balcony/upper stage Elaborate costumes but no props Young boys played the parts of women; women weren’t allowed to be actors.

THE GLOBE TODAY Shakespeare’s Globe burned down, but its foundation was discovered in 1990. It gave us many clues to the Elizabethan experience such as hazelnut shells! A replica has since been rebuilt. You can visit it and see a play today.

TICKET OUT THE DOOR Identify both an internal and external conflict from one of the following pieces of literature that we read last semester. � The Odyssey � The Cask of Amontillado � The Gift of the Magi � Annabel Lee � To Kill a Mockingbird**