Transcript Document

Elements of
Drama
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TODAY YOU WILL:
Learn vocabulary to use
in discussing drama
Learn to recognize the
elements of drama
Learn strategies for
reading drama
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DRAMA : PLAY
Drama is a form of
literature that is
performed for an
audience, either on stage
or before a camera.
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Comparison of Drama and
Fiction
Similarities:
It tells a
story with
characters,
plot, and
setting.
Differences:
It is written to be
performed in front of
an audience. Dramas
are written in a special
form called a script, in
which lines are written
out for the characters
to speak.
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PARTS OF THE SCRIPT
Cast of Characters: is a list of
characters that often has a short
description appearing next to a
character’s name
Dialogue: is the conversation
between characters. Both the plot
of the play and the characters’
personalities are revealed through
dialogue.
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TV shows
ARE
WRITTEN IN
A FORM
CALLED A
TELEPLAY.
Produce Man: How many peaches for
you today, Mrs. Werthan?
Daisy: Three, thank you.
Produce Man: You’re not gonna be
gettin’ any better ones the rest of the
summer. Lemme give you a few more.
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Stage Direction: instructions for the
director, the performers, and the stage
crew. These are printed in italics or are
enclosed in parentheses. Many stage
directions tell the actors how to speak or
move. They also describe the scenery –
all the decorations on the stage that help
create the setting. Props, the objects
that actors need during the play, are also
described in the stage directions.
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(Boolie goes into the pantry, where Daisy
is transferring pickles from a large crock
into jars.)
Daisy (off camera): No!
Miriam: Don’t worry, sugar. I’ll come
after for temple tomorrow. (Idella enters
with dishes of ice cream)
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Acts and Scenes
The action of the play is divided into
scenes. A scene changes whenever the
setting changes. Sometimes scenes are
grouped into acts. In a movie or
television script, the scenes are not
usually labeled by number. In a TV
drama, a commercial break often comes
between scenes. In a stage play, the
lights dim, the curtain closes, or music
plays while the props are changed.
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FRONT HALL. (Daisy puts on her hat
and gathers her gloves and purse.)
BACKYARD. ( Daisy is backing her car
out of the garage. It suddenly shoots
backward and stops, hanging over the
edge of the neighbor’s stone wall.
Daisy gets out and slams the door, and
the car drops into the neighbor’s
garden.)
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Strategies for Reading
Drama
1. Read the play silently. You need to
know the entire plot and understand the
characters before you read it aloud.
2. Figure out what is happening. Be
patient. Read several pages to
understand what is happening.
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3. Read stage directions carefully.
When you read drama, you must
imagine the action and the scenery.
If you skip the stage directions, you
miss some important information.
4. Get to know the characters.
Dialogue is how you get to know the
characters. Analyze the characters’
words carefully and try to discover
the meaning behind the words.
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5. Keep track of the plot. The plot of
the drama centers on a main
conflict that the characters try to
resolve. Look for the conflict, watch
for the action to build to a climax,
and evaluate how the conflict is
resolved.
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6. Read the play aloud. When a
drama is performed, it becomes
almost like real life. You bring your
own interpretation of the character
to the role. Let yourself become the
character. React to the other
characters in the story.
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