Introduction to Drama

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Introduction to Drama
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Definition

• Unlike short stories or novels, plays are written
  for the express purpose of performance.

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Definition

• Actors play roles and present the storyline
  through dialogue, action, and gestures.

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Definitions

• For the most part, plays have no narrators.
  (There are a few notable exceptions to this
  rule.)
• The audience must glean critical information from
  the action on stage.

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Dealing with Details

• Unlike novels or short stories, plays have
  special features.
• Plays are divided into acts and scenes.
• Scripts feature lists of characters and stage
  directions which require the reader to pause and
  visualize the set up.
• Readers and actors must pay close attention to
  the dialogue in order to understand the
  characters and action.

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Important Terms

• Monologue an extended speech by one character.
• Soliloquy an extended speech by one character,
  alone on stage. Soliloquies are used to express
  the private thoughts of one character.
• Aside a characters direct address to the
  audience, which is not heard by the other
  characters.

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• Monologues, soliloquies, and asides are dramatic
  techniques that provide direct insight into
  motives, attitudes, and overall tone.
• These techniques function like a fictional
  narrator.

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Two Basic Flavors

• Comedy
• Comedies are dramatic works which use humor to
  explore various themes and characters. Comedies
  usually end on a happy note.

• Tragedy
• Tragedies treat serious subjects and often focus
  on the tragic heros character. Tragedies
  usually end with death.

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More Terms

• Dramatic Irony
• Playwrights use dramatic irony when they allow
  the audience to know more than the characters do
  about a specific situation or incident.

In Shakespeares Hamlet, the audience hears the
fiendish plot of Claudius and Laërtes. Both are
determined to see Hamlet dead. Moments later,
Hamlet responds to news of the Kings great wager
and his own impending duel with Laërtes by
saying, how ill alls here about my heart
(V.ii. 186).
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Key Terms

• Melodrama
• This nineteenth century view of drama appeals to
  the emotions. Based on stock characters who are
  either villainous or virtuous, these sensational
  plays have happy endings.
• Like many contemporary television shows,
  melodramas feature static characters who deal
  with the world but fail to experience real
  growth, development, or insight.

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Key Terms

• Realism
• Realistic drama deals frankly with social issues
  and contemporary life. Instead of focusing on the
  lives of kings or great heroes, these dramas
  present a look at ordinary people and everyday
  problems.

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Key Terms

• Effects of Realism
• Realism requires a shift away from painted
  backdrops and scenery.
• The result is the box set which utilizes three,
  more or less, solid walls. The fourth wall
  remains open to the audience.
• Sets are decorated with real furniture.
• New methods make changing scenery faster.

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Key Terms

• Naturalism
• Like realism, naturalism developed in response to
  the sentimental and sensational melodramas that
  were popular in the nineteenth century.
• Using realistic plots, naturalism explores the
  forces that influence the human condition.

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Key Terms

• Satire
• The term satire refers to social criticism that
  is cloaked in comedy and used to ridicule social
  institutions and figureheads.
• Farce
• The term farce refers to comedy that lapses into
  ludicrous, improbable plots, mockery, and even
  slapstick.

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Plot

• The overall storyline and sequence of events is
  known as the plot.

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Elements of Plot

• Exposition introduces the characters, setting
  and basic situation.
• Rising action presents the central conflict,
  complications, suspense and crisis.
• Climax the point of greatest tension.

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Elements of Plot

• Falling action subsiding intensity.
• Denouement/Resolution the resolution which ties
  up loose ends and concludes the action.

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Reading Drama

• Pay particular attention to the overall plot.
• What are the major conflicts or issues?
• When does the climax occur?
• What force or forces seem to be at work in the
  play, moving the action along?

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• Pay close attention to characters.
• Who are the central characters?
• What do you know about their personalities? How
  do you know this information?
• What are the characters strengths and
  weaknesses?

Photo credit Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee
Williams. Cornell Schwartz Center for the
Performing Arts.
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Recognizing the Theme

• Most written works have a central theme and
  several additional themes.

• Try to identify the central theme.
• Back up your interpretation with examples from
  the text.

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• If possible, watch a production of the play
  youve been reading.
• How does the production correspond to your
  reading? How does it differ?