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Introduction to Drama

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Title: Introduction to Drama


1
Introduction to Drama
  • The Writing and Reading Program
  • At Western New England College

2
Definition
  • Unlike short stories or novels, plays are written
    for the express purpose of performance.

3
Definition
  • Actors play roles and present the storyline
    through dialogue, action, and gestures.

4
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.

5
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.

6
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.

7
  • Monologues, soliloquies, and asides are dramatic
    techniques that provide direct insight into
    motives, attitudes, and overall tone.
  • These techniques function like a fictional
    narrator.

8
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.

9
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).
10
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.

11
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.

12
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.

13
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.

14
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.

15
Plot
  • The overall storyline and sequence of events is
    known as the plot.

16
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.

17
Elements of Plot
  • Falling action subsiding intensity.
  • Denouement the resolution which ties up loose
    ends and concludes the action.

18
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?

19
  • 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.
20
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.

21
  • If possible, watch a production of the play
    youve been reading.
  • How does the production correspond to your
    reading? How does it differ?

22
The Theater, Enjoy!
From The Shakespeare Review An English Music
Hall look at Shakespeare
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