Introduction to Drama What is Drama l Drama

Introduction to Drama

What is Drama? l Drama is a type of literature that is primarily written to be performed for an audience. When reading a play, it is important to keep certain features of drama in mind. Some of these features relate to drama as literature; others reflect its character as a performance.

History… l Greek Drama 500 -400 B. C. l Medieval: The Middle Ages 1200 -1500 AD l Elizabethan & Jacobean 1500 -1642 l Restoration & 18 th Cent. Drama 1660 -1800 l Romantic Era 1800 -1880 l Modern Era 1850 -Present

Types of Drama- Tragedy: A play in which the main character experiences disaster, but faces this downfall in such a way as to attain heroic stature. * l Even though Tragedies are “gloomy” they are triumphant, because they inspire exaltation at the greatness human beings can attain even in defeat. l

l Comedy closes with a peaceful resolution of the main conflict. * l High Comedy: The humor arises from subtle characterization, social satire, and sophisticated wit. l Low Comedy: Emphasizes absurd dialogue, bawdy jokes, visual gags, and physical humor. *

Types of Comedy l Romantic Comedy: The main characters are lovers, and the plot tends to follow the pattern of “boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl again. ” l Satiric Comedy: Uses humor to ridicule foolish ideas or customs with the purpose of improving society. l Comedy of Manners: Satirizes the vices and follies of the upper class. *

Additional Forms of Drama l Farce: Relies on exaggeration, absurdity, and slapstick l Straight Drama or Drama: Deal with serious subjects, but do not always end in disaster.

Elements of Drama l l External Conflict: Pits a character against nature or fate, society, or another character Internal conflict: Between opposing forces within a character. Protagonist: The central character of the play and often undergoes radical changes as the action progresses. * Antagonist: The character who opposes the main character*

l Foil: A minor character whose traits contrast sharply with those of the protagonist l Dialogue: Conversations between characters l Monologue: A long speech spoken by a single character to himself or herself, or to the audience l Soliloquy: A monologue in which a character speaks his or her private thoughts aloud and appears to be unaware of the audience.

l Aside: a short speech or comment delivered by a character to the audience, but unheard by the other characters who are present.

Conventions of Drama l Cast of Characters: listed in the beginning of the play, before the action starts. l Act: a major division of a play l Scenes: Major division of an act l Stage Directions: a dramatist’s instructions for performing a play.

Protagonist

Antagonist