Introduction to Drama

The Writing and Reading Program At Western New England College

Introduction of Drama

 The word

drama

comes from the Greek verb

dran,

which means “to do.” – The earliest known plays . . .

– were written around the fifth century B.C. – produced for festivals to honor Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility

Definition

 Reading a play, or drama, is very different from reading a short story or novel. – In a play, there are no long descriptions of setting or characters. – Instead, the entire action of the play is told through dialogue and stage directions.  Like a short story or novel, however, a drama does contain the basic elements of fiction and plot.

Definition

 Unlike short stories or novels, plays are written for the express purpose of performance.

Definition

 Actors play roles and present the storyline through dialogue, action, and gestures.

Definitions

 For the most part, plays have no narrators. (There are a few notable exceptions to this rule.)  The audience must glean critical information from the action on stage.

Dealing with Details

 Unlike novels or short stories, plays have special features.

– Plays are divided into acts and scenes.

– Scripts feature lists of characters and stage directions which require the reader to pause and visualize the set up. – Readers and actors must pay close attention to the dialogue in order to understand the characters and action.

Important Terms

 Monologue – an extended speech by one character.

 Soliloquy – an extended speech by one character, alone on stage. Soliloquies are used to express the private thoughts of one character.

 Aside – a character’s direct address to the audience, which is not heard by the other characters.

 Monologues, soliloquies, and asides are dramatic techniques that provide direct insight into motives, attitudes, and overall tone.

 These techniques function like a fictional narrator .

Two Basic “Flavors”



Comedy

Comedies are dramatic works which use humor to explore various themes and characters. Comedies usually end on a happy note.



Tragedy

Tragedies treat serious subjects and often focus on the tragic hero’s character. Tragedies usually end with death.

Comedy

A comedy is a play that ends happily. The plot usually centers on a romantic conflict.

boy meets girl boy loses girl boy wins girl

Comedy

The main characters in a comedy could be anyone: nobility townspeople servants

Comedy

• Comic complications always

occur before the conflict is resolved.

• In most cases, the

play ends with a wedding.

Tragedy

A tragedy is a play that ends unhappily.

• Most classic Greek tragedies deal with

serious, universal themes such as right and wrong justice and injustice life and death

• Tragedies pit human limitations against the

larger forces of destiny.

Tragedy

The protagonist of most classical tragedies is a tragic hero. This hero pride

• is noble and in many

ways admirable

• has a tragic flaw, a

personal failing that leads to a tragic end rebelliousness jealousy

More Terms

 Dramatic Irony – Playwrights use dramatic irony when they allow the audience to know more than the characters do about a specific situation or incident.

In Shakespeare’s

Hamlet,

the audience hears the fiendish plot of Claudius and Laërtes. Both are determined to see Hamlet dead. Moments later, Hamlet responds to news of the King’s great wager and his own impending duel with Laërtes by saying, “[…] how ill all’s here about my heart” (V.ii. 186).

Key Terms

 Melodrama – This nineteenth century view of drama appeals to the

emotions

. Based on

stock characters

who are either villainous or virtuous, these sensational plays have

happy endings

. – Like many contemporary television shows, melodramas feature static characters who deal with the world but fail to experience real growth, development, or insight.

Key Terms

 Realism – Realistic drama deals frankly with

social issues

and

contemporary life

. Instead of focusing on the lives of kings or great heroes, these dramas present a look at ordinary people and everyday problems.

Key Terms

 Effects of Realism – Realism requires a shift away from painted backdrops and scenery.

– The result is the

“box set”

which utilizes three, more or less, solid walls. The fourth “wall” remains open to the audience.

– Sets are decorated with

real furniture

.

– New methods make changing scenery faster.

Key Terms

 Naturalism – Like realism, naturalism developed in response to the sentimental and sensational melodramas that were popular in the nineteenth century. – Using realistic plots, naturalism explores the forces that influence the human condition.

Key Terms

 Satire – The term satire refers to social criticism that is cloaked in comedy and used to ridicule social institutions and figureheads.

 Farce – The term farce refers to comedy that lapses into ludicrous, improbable plots, mockery, and even slapstick.

Plot

 The overall storyline and sequence of events is known as the plot.

Elements of Plot

 Exposition – introduces the characters, setting and basic situation.

 Rising action – presents the central conflict, complications, suspense and crisis.

 Climax – the point of greatest tension.

Elements of Plot

 Falling action – subsiding intensity.

 Denouement – the resolution which ties up loose ends and concludes the action.

Like the plot of a story, the plot of a play involves characters who face a problem or conflict.

Climax point of highest tension; action determines how the conflict will be resolved Complications tension builds Exposition characters and conflict are introduced Resolution conflict is resolved; play ends

Reading Drama

 Pay particular attention to the overall plot.

– What are the major conflicts or issues?

– When does the climax occur?

– What force or forces seem to be at work in the play, moving the action along?

Photo credit: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams. Cornell Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts.

 Pay close attention to characters.

– Who are the central characters?

– What do you know about their personalities? How do you know this information?

– What are the characters’ strengths and weaknesses?

Recognizing the Theme

 Most written works have a central theme and several additional themes.

–Try to identify the central theme.

–Back up your interpretation with examples from the text.

 If possible, watch a production of the play you’ve been reading.

 How does the production correspond to your reading? How does it differ?

The Theater, Enjoy!

From The Shakespeare Review An English Music Hall look at Shakespeare