Drama

What is Drama?

• Drama is : (noun)-A prose or verse composition, especially one

telling a serious story, that is intended for representation by actors impersonating the characters and performing the dialogue and action.

-A serious narrative work or program for television, radio, or the cinema.

Drama is (cont.)…

-Theatrical plays of a particular kind or period: Elizabethan drama.

-The art or practice of writing or producing dramatic works.

-A situation or succession of events in real life having the dramatic progression or emotional effect characteristic of a play: the drama of the prisoner's escape and recapture.

-The quality or condition of being dramatic: a summit meeting full of drama.

Prose vs. Verse (Poetry)• Prose is: (noun) -Ordinary speech or writing, without metrical structure.-Commonplace expression or quality.• Verse is: (noun)-A single metrical line in a poetic composition; one line

of poetry.-A division of a metrical composition, such as a stanza

of a poem or hymn.-A poem.-Metrical or rhymed composition

The Elements of

Drama

Elements of Drama: The elements of drama, by which dramatic works can be analyzed and evaluated, can be categorized into three major areas: literary elements, technical elements, and performance elements.

literary elementstechnical elements

performance elements

Literary ElementsPlot: the series of events that takeplace in a play. There are 5 stagesin a plot structure:

Exposition-background information, setting, and basic conflict

Rising action: a series of events following the exposition and leading up to the dramatic climax.

Literary Elements

• Plot Structure cont…

Climax: the turning point or high point of a story, when events can go either way

Falling action: the series of events following the climax.

Denouement or Conclusion : (another term for the ending-it is the French word for “unraveling”) Ending, resolution, or catastrophe

Literary ElementsCharacter: a person portrayed in a drama, novel,

or other artistic piece.

Exposition is the “who, when, where and what” part of the play.

Story organization: beginning, middle, end

Literary Elements

Conflict: the internal or external struggle between opposing forces, ideas, or interests that creates dramatic tension.

Suspense: a feeling of uncertainty as to the outcome, used to build interest and excitement on the part of the audience

Literary Elements

Theme: the basic idea of a play; the idea, point of view, or perception that binds together a work of art.

Language: in drama, the particular manner of verbal expression, the diction or style of writing, or the speech or phrasing that suggests a class or profession or type of character.

Literary Elements

Style: the shaping of dramatic material, settings, or costumes in a deliberately nonrealistic manner.

Soliloquy: a speech by a single actor who is ALONE on stage (aside=to the side, audience)

Monologue: a long speech made by one actor; a monologue may be delivered alone or in the presence of others.

Technical Elements

Scenery (set): the theatrical equipment, such as curtains, flats, backdrops, or platforms, used in a dramatic production to communicate environment

Costumes: clothing and accessories worn by actors to portray character and period.

Props: short for properties; any moveable object that appears on stage during a performance

Technical Elements

Lights: the placement, intensity, and color of lights to help with environment, mood, or feeling

Sound: the effects an audience hears during performance to communicate character, context, or environment

Makeup: costumes, wigs, and body paint used to transform an actor into a character.

Performance ElementsActing: use of face, body, and voice to portray

character

Character motivation: the reason or reasons for a character’s behavior

Character analysis: in responding to dramatic art, the process of examining how the elements of drama are used to develop a character

Empathy: the capacity to relate to the feelings of another.

Performance ElementsSpeaking: the mode of expression or delivery of

lines Vocal expression: how an actor uses his or her

voice to convey character Inflection: change in pitch or loudness of the

voice. Projection: how well the voice carries to the

audience Speaking style: the mode of expression or delivery

of linesDiction: selection and pronunciation of words;

clarity of speech.

Performance ElementsNonverbal expression:

Gestures any movement of the actor’s head, shoulder, arm, hand, leg, or foot to convey meaningFacial expression physical and vocal aspects used by an actor to convey mood, feeling, or personalityCharacter blocking the path formed by the actor’s movement on stageMovement stage blocking or the movements of the actors onstage during performance

William Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s Life-Born on April 23, 1564 (allegedly) in Stratford-upon-

Avon-Married Anne Hathaway November 28, 1582-Three Children: Susanna, Judith, and Hamnet (died

in 1596)-Acted and wrote for Lord Chamberlain’s Men (a

London troupe)-Part owner of the this company and the Globe

Theatre.-Works include: 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and 2

narrative poems-Died on April 23, 1616 (allegedly)

The Globe Theatre

-built in 1598-open-air, octagonal-capacity 3,000 spectators-burned in 1613 (rebuilt 1614)-1642 puritans closed it down-rebuild finished in 1997 (faithful reproduction)*no women allowed on stage, women’s parts

were played by young boys

The Globe