Elements Of Drama

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Elements Of Drama

• Dialogue and action form the twin pillars of
  drama. The two pillars assist in the portrayal of
  intense struggle and conflict wherein the true
  essence and power of a drama lies.

THE END
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• NOTES ON DIALOGUE ACTION DRAMA OTHER FORMS
• Prepared by Tannishtha 04d01010
• Spring 2006

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Dialogue

• It is conversation between characters with
  little comment made directly by author.
• Can be read (often in verse-form) or seen (stage
  presentation)
• Dialogue is the one of the distinguishing
  features of drama, but all dialogue is not drama.
• Types of dialogue-
• Mere presentation of facts sans development of
  the characters or plot. Eg a court room trial
• 2) Development of characters via dialogue but no
  plot (conversation goes from subject to subject
  via association rather than logic, which would be
  essential for advancing action) Eg W.S.
  Languor's conversation

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Action

• It comprises of more than mere physical action
  without reference to character it is relatively
  meaningless.
• Subtle gestures usually lost on audience as they
  arent so noticeable, a hurdle overcome by close
  ups in case of cinema.
• It is argued that cinema is primarily a visual
  art, though legitimate drama is primarily
  auditory- costumes, setting, acting are all
  secondary to the spoken word-dialogue.

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So what is drama?

• To summarize, in drama dialogue must- be
  accompanied by action illustrate and develop
  characters, from various points of view even
  concern the past, present and set ground for
  further action, ie be progressive with tensions
  of active conflict within it.

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Drama and other literary forms

• Drama is a highly specialized form of
  literature which can do some things supremely
  well but must handle matters its own ways. The
  merits and demerits are discussed as follows.

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Fiction versus Drama

• Little action, mostly consists of peoples
  reaction to certain events/ or too much action
  accompanied by too little matter- both difficult
  to convert to drama as it is less effective/ too
  cumbersome. Drama usually works to greater
  success when characters participate in a
  situation rather than just viewing it.
• Fiction has greater choice of characters,
  inanimate ones even, like in the example, the
  letter.
• It can provide insight into the minds of
  characters through omniscient narrator (the
  author).

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Poetry versus Drama

• Very often, drama is in the form of verse.
  However a poem and drama can differ in the manner
  it treats the theme.
• Poetry is usually more intellectual, concerned
  more with meaning than with feeling,
  interpretations on a higher plane.

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Common elements

• Fiction, poetry, drama all three differ from
  other writings such as history, biography,
  philosophy because of certain common elements.
• They all present situations (specific), invite
  interpretations (general) using methods of
  dialogue, action, setting.

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Distinguishing elements

• Absence of omniscient narrator hence- no direct
  description, no direct comments, no purely
  mental/psychological action.
• The drawbacks of drama- restriction to first
  person dialogue, absence of narrative etc in fact
  make it crisper and heighten the tension.