Elements of Drama

1
Elements of Drama

• All the Worlds a stage..
• -William Shakespeare

2
Drama/Its Framework

• Characters are whom the audience cares about.
• The characters have a conflict, or problem that
  creates a struggle
• The struggle creates suspense.
• The story progresses to a climax, or a moment of
  emotional intensity.
• The main character undergoes a change-under the
  pressure of the action

3
Conflict

• Two types
• External The character with an outside force,
  person, animal, etc.
• Internal The character has conflicts within
  himself.

4
Stagecraft

• Playwrights provide stage directions-information
  on movement and emotion to go along with what the
  actor says.
• Stage directions can also include information on
  scenery, costumes, lighting and props.
• Stage directions appear in parentheses or
  brackets.

5
Roots of Drama

• Drama originated with the Greeks and their
  religious festivals.
• Eventually drama structure was formalized with
  actors(who wore masks) and a chorus(did not sing)

6
Roots of Drama

• Types of Greek plays
• Tragedy heroic character had unhappy ending.
• Satyr Comic and lewd
• Comedy Ordinary characters with happy ending.

7
Tragic Hero

• According to Aristotle
• Function of tragedy was to arouse pity and fear
  in audience which created a catharsis or
  emotional purging.

8
Tragic Hero

• Tragedy had tragic hero
• Tragic hero had tragic flaw that led to his
  downfall.
• Tragic flaw was fundamental character
  weakness-pride, ambition, etc.