Transcript The Elements of Drama

The Elements of Drama
Guiding Question
 How
does the television world
create their product?
Drama

Comes from the Greek Word, “Dran”
 Means
 The
“To do” or “To Act”
Doing/Acting Makes Drama
Drama…
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…is
a story told in front of an
audience
Elements of Drama
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Playwright-the
author of a play
Actors-the people
who perform
Acts-the units of
action
Scenes-parts of
the acts
Elements of Drama
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Characterizationplaywright’s
technique for
making
believable
characters
Elements of Drama
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Foil
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A character in contrast with another
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Usually contrasts the protagonist
Helps to highlight the other
character (protagonist)
Ex: Watson to Sherlock Holmes!
Dramatic Speech
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Dialogueconversation
between or among
characters
Monologue-long
speech by one
single character
(private thoughts)
Dramatic Speech
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Soliloquy
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Speech by a character alone on stage
Directed to:
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Himself / Herself
Audience
Aside
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Remarks made to the audience
Other characters on stage do NOT hear
Types of Drama
pride
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Tragedy
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a play that ends unhappily
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rebelliousness
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Tragic Hero
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jealousy
Right vs Wrong
Justice vs Injustice
Life vs Death
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Noble and admirable
Tragic Flaw
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a personal failing that leads to a
tragic end
Types of Drama
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Comedy
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boy meets girl
A play that ends happily
Usually centers around a
romantic conflict
boy loses girl
boy wins girl
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Comic Relief
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A witty character in a serious scene
Dramatic Style
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Couplet
His hair looks like burnt hay
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He’ll need to bathe all day!
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A pair of lines of poetry
Usually the same meter
Usually rhymed
Blank Verse
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A pair of lines of poetry
Usually the same meter
Usually unrhymed
But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the East and Juliet is the sun!
Dramatic Style
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Iambic Pentameter
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Pairs of syllables = Iambs
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Grouped in 5 = Pentameter
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1 Stressed + 1 Unstressed
10 Syllables total
Usually unrhymed
daDum daDum daDum daDum daDum
Dramatic Style
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Irony
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Dramatic
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Situational
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Reader/audience
knows something the
characters do not
A difference between
what a character or
reader expects and
what actually happens
Verbal
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Sarcasm
Dramatic Style
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Allusion

A reference to another
piece of lit., famous
person, place, or event
Stage Directions
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Found in brackets [ ]
Describe scenery –
language - actions
C, Center Stage
L, Stage Left
R, Stage Right
U, Upstage or Rear
D, Downstage or
Front