Transcript Unit Four
Unit Two: Drama Drama Terms Drama – Literature intended for performance before an audience Comedy – An amusing and entertaining drama ending happily presenting the “lighter side” of life Tragedy – Serious and somber drama ending in disaster and experiencing unexpected personal reversals Drama terms (cont’d.) Plot – consists of exposition, conflict, crisis, climax, and denouement Exposition – Information about setting, characters, and situation Prologue – Introductory statement in prose or verse Soliloquy – Monologue delivered by a character while alone on stage Drama Terms (cont’d.) Conflict – Opposition that gives rise to the dramatic action Protagonist – Central character of a play Antagonist – Forces or people united against the protagonist Crisis – Conflict intensifying Climax – Point of greatest tension in a drama Denouement - Resolution of conflict Drama Terms (cont’d.) Physical suggestion – Allows audience to see a part of the character’s personality and movement Character differentiation – vocal skills that help to distinguish characters by age, voice tone, health, mood, and movement rhythms Stage directions – basic movements and vocalizations outlined by the playwright Brief History of Drama Greek Period – Tragic plays; little or no set; didn’t linger on unimportant details History (cont’d.) Roman Period – Comedies; rapid and conversational; witty and humorous History (cont’d.) Middle Ages – Drama came mainly from the church; Biblical or ethical plots History (cont’d.) Renaissance/Elizabethan – Renewed interest in Greek and Roman classics. Shakespeare is the most famous of the Elizabethan playwrights History (cont’d.) Restoration – Comedies written for the social circle of English ladies and gentlemen, the rich. History (cont’d.) Realism – Actor does not acknowledge the audience. Deals with real life situations. History (cont’d.) Expressionism – Distorts major features for effect. Used to express loathing for materialism and industrialism. History (cont’d.) Theater of the Absurd – Emphasizes the absurdity of existence. Suggests that it is impossible to be certain about anything. Drama Interpretation Assignment Choose a 4-6 minute scene from a play involving no more than three characters You may choose one of the plays included in chapter 6, or choose one of your own. Fill out the analysis sheet for Drama Write an introduction and be sure to include the title and playwright as part of this. Decide on character placements to be used Practice, practice, practice!!!!