DramaDrama

Characteristics of the GenreCharacteristics of the Genre

HistoryHistory

Drama began with the early Drama began with the early Greeks who produced religious Greeks who produced religious oriented plays to celebrate the oriented plays to celebrate the resurrection of the tragic god of resurrection of the tragic god of vegetation, Dionysus.vegetation, Dionysus.

The Greeks were a The Greeks were a polytheisticpolytheistic culture, believing in many gods.culture, believing in many gods.

DionysusDionysus

Was the son of a god, Zeus, and Was the son of a god, Zeus, and a mortal, Semele.a mortal, Semele.

Was raised by the nymphs Was raised by the nymphs (nature spirits) and celebrated (nature spirits) and celebrated for bringing the rebirth of for bringing the rebirth of vegetation in the spring with a vegetation in the spring with a great festival.great festival.

The festival of DionysusThe festival of Dionysus

Featured a huge drama festival, Featured a huge drama festival, kind of an Olympics of Drama, in kind of an Olympics of Drama, in which all of the big playwrights which all of the big playwrights participatedparticipated

Lasted five daysLasted five days Hundreds of people from many Hundreds of people from many

towns would gather to feast, pay towns would gather to feast, pay tribute to the gods, and watch tribute to the gods, and watch the dramas.the dramas.

The Drama CompetitionThe Drama Competition

Each playwright presented four Each playwright presented four plays: three tragedies and a plays: three tragedies and a “satyr” play.“satyr” play.

Satyr plays became our modern Satyr plays became our modern comedies and satires.comedies and satires.

The priest was the only actor.The priest was the only actor. The priest was followed by a The priest was followed by a

procession of priestesses.procession of priestesses.

The PriestessesThe Priestesses

In later years, the priestesses In later years, the priestesses became the chorus.became the chorus.

The chorus sang, danced, and The chorus sang, danced, and interpreted the actor’s speech interpreted the actor’s speech and mood.and mood.

The GoatThe Goat

In myth, Dionysus was In myth, Dionysus was supposed to have been “reborn” supposed to have been “reborn” after an angry goddess ripped after an angry goddess ripped him to pieces.him to pieces.

In the early days, a goat (tragos) In the early days, a goat (tragos) was dismembered on stage to was dismembered on stage to symbolize the death of symbolize the death of Dionysus. From tragos comes Dionysus. From tragos comes the word “tragedy”.the word “tragedy”.

Rules of Drama from Ancient Rules of Drama from Ancient Greece to Elizabethan EnglandGreece to Elizabethan England

Royalty made the best subject Royalty made the best subject matter.matter.

The importance of “catharsis”-The importance of “catharsis”-purifying of the emotions purifying of the emotions through artthrough art

Men actors onlyMen actors only The idea of the tragic flaw – The idea of the tragic flaw –

hubris – arrogance arising from hubris – arrogance arising from pride or passion.pride or passion.

Types of DramaTypes of Drama

Comedy entertains, makes us laugh, Comedy entertains, makes us laugh, and has a happy ending.and has a happy ending.

Tragedy: a drama in which the main Tragedy: a drama in which the main character is destroyed by some character is destroyed by some combination of chance and character combination of chance and character flawflaw

History: A serious play in which there History: A serious play in which there is some combination of royalty and is some combination of royalty and world-changing events world-changing events

More Types of DramaMore Types of Drama

Melodrama: A slightly serious Melodrama: A slightly serious drama played at a “game level” drama played at a “game level” which exploits exciting actions which exploits exciting actions and uses stereotypical and uses stereotypical characterscharacters

Satire: Drama that ridicules Satire: Drama that ridicules people, ideas, customs, or people, ideas, customs, or organizations organizations

The Actors’ WordsThe Actors’ Words

Words spoken by the characters Words spoken by the characters in a play are called in a play are called dialogue.dialogue.

A solo speech of a single A solo speech of a single character is called a character is called a monologuemonologue..

A solo speech, representing the A solo speech, representing the thought of a character, which is thought of a character, which is not heard by the other actors on not heard by the other actors on stage is called a stage is called a soliloquy.soliloquy.

Parts of a PlayParts of a Play

One event or exchange among One event or exchange among characters in the same time and characters in the same time and place is a place is a scene.scene.

A set of related scenes presented A set of related scenes presented without a break is an without a break is an act.act.

Narrative in a script that explains Narrative in a script that explains where the characters are and what where the characters are and what they are doing is called they are doing is called stage stage direction.direction.

Dramatic ElementsDramatic Elements

The inner growth and change of The inner growth and change of a character is shown by the five a character is shown by the five layers of layers of characterization.characterization.

The main character is called theThe main character is called the protagonist.protagonist.

The force which stands in the The force which stands in the way of the main character is way of the main character is called the called the antagonist.antagonist.

Dramatic ElementsDramatic Elements

The part of the plot in the first scene The part of the plot in the first scene which explains what has happened which explains what has happened before and which introduces the before and which introduces the characters, setting, and basic conflict characters, setting, and basic conflict is called the is called the exposition.exposition.

The confrontation of the main The confrontation of the main character with some strong opposing character with some strong opposing force is called the force is called the conflict.conflict.

Dramatic ElementsDramatic Elements

The point of greatest suspense The point of greatest suspense and tension when the and tension when the protagonist and antagonist meet protagonist and antagonist meet for the last time is the for the last time is the climax.climax.

Literary Elements often usedLiterary Elements often used

The time and place in which the The time and place in which the events occur is called events occur is called setting.setting.

The feelings the audience The feelings the audience experiences from the overall experiences from the overall experience of a play is the experience of a play is the mood.mood.

Hints dropped by the author to Hints dropped by the author to prepare the reader for future events prepare the reader for future events are called are called foreshadowing.foreshadowing.

More Often Used Literary More Often Used Literary ElementsElements

The image of a situation or The image of a situation or event from the past which event from the past which interrupts the main action of the interrupts the main action of the play is called a play is called a flashback.flashback.

A contrast between what is said A contrast between what is said and what is meant is called and what is meant is called irony.irony.