English: Drama

Introduction to DramaIntroduction to Drama

HISTORY OF DRAMAHISTORY OF DRAMA
Drama began inDrama began in
ancient Greeceancient Greece
dating back to 543dating back to 543
B.C.B.C.
It started as choralIt started as choral
performances ofperformances of
dancing and singingdancing and singing
honoring the Greekhonoring the Greek
god, Dionysus, thegod, Dionysus, the
god of wine.god of wine.

In Greek drama, the actors all wore masks
to help the audience recognize the
character they were playing.
The “Agamemnon” Mask

What is your favorite television dramaWhat is your favorite television drama
series, and why do you like to watch it?series, and why do you like to watch it?
Perhaps you identifyPerhaps you identify
strongly with one ofstrongly with one of
the characters.the characters.
Maybe the plots areMaybe the plots are
intriguing, or you findintriguing, or you find
the dialogue funny.the dialogue funny.
You’ll find theseYou’ll find these
elements – andelements – and
others – in theothers – in the
dramas you read asdramas you read as
well.well.

A drama, which isA drama, which is
written to bewritten to be
performed by actorsperformed by actors
in front of anin front of an
audience, is a storyaudience, is a story
told mainly throughtold mainly through
the speech andthe speech and
actions of characters.actions of characters.

What is drama?What is drama?
Drama is a unique literary form because they
are designed to be acted out on a stage before an
audience. The word ‘drama’ comes from the
Greek word ‘dran’ meaning to act or to do.
As “literature in action,” drama bringsAs “literature in action,” drama brings
a story to life before our eyes. Unlikea story to life before our eyes. Unlike
most works of fiction that rely heavilymost works of fiction that rely heavily
on narration, the story of a play oron narration, the story of a play or
drama is told through dialogue anddrama is told through dialogue and
action and is integrated with theaction and is integrated with the
setting that the audience observes-setting that the audience observes-
largely from scenery and propslargely from scenery and props

TragedyTragedy
It is one of the oldest forms ofIt is one of the oldest forms of
drama. It exposes the plight anddrama. It exposes the plight and
suffering of humans to thesuffering of humans to the
audience.audience.
The theme of a tragedy usuallyThe theme of a tragedy usually
rotates around the ruins of arotates around the ruins of a
dynasty, downfall of man, emotionaldynasty, downfall of man, emotional
betrayals, moral setback, personalbetrayals, moral setback, personal
loss, death, and denials. A tragedyloss, death, and denials. A tragedy
when composed and enacted wellwhen composed and enacted well
can touch you deeply.can touch you deeply.

ComedyComedy
A comedy makes us laughA comedy makes us laugh
when the play is well-composedwhen the play is well-composed
with the humorous elements.with the humorous elements.
The story is usually based onThe story is usually based on
real-life characters, funnyreal-life characters, funny
experiences in life, or any typeexperiences in life, or any type
of fun-provoking situation.of fun-provoking situation.

MelodramaMelodrama
Melodrama isMelodrama is exaggerationexaggeration
of emotionsof emotions. It's marked by a. It's marked by a
surge of emotions, which is asurge of emotions, which is a
technique to make thetechnique to make the
character and the plot morecharacter and the plot more
appealing to the audience. Aappealing to the audience. A
melodrama can sometimesmelodrama can sometimes
fail to derive applause,fail to derive applause,
because excessive display ofbecause excessive display of
emotions can become sheeremotions can become sheer
monotonous.monotonous.

FarceFarce
According to the definition givenAccording to the definition given
by Britannica, it is a comicby Britannica, it is a comic
dramatic piece that uses highlydramatic piece that uses highly
improbable situations,improbable situations,
stereotyped characters,stereotyped characters,
extravagant exaggeration, andextravagant exaggeration, and
violent horseplay. Farce,violent horseplay. Farce,
although a sub-category ofalthough a sub-category of
comedy, is intellectually inferiorcomedy, is intellectually inferior
to comedy because the plotsto comedy because the plots
and the characters areand the characters are
substantially crude, ambiguous,substantially crude, ambiguous,
and unimaginative.and unimaginative.

CharacterCharacter
The characters that form a part of the storyThe characters that form a part of the story
are interwoven with the plot of the drama.are interwoven with the plot of the drama.
Each character in a play has a personality ofEach character in a play has a personality of
its own and has a distinct set of principlesits own and has a distinct set of principles
and beliefs. Actors who play various roles in aand beliefs. Actors who play various roles in a
drama have the very important responsibilitydrama have the very important responsibility
of bringing the characters to life.of bringing the characters to life.

SettingSetting
The setting and time in a play tell us where the storyThe setting and time in a play tell us where the story
happened and the time it occurred.happened and the time it occurred.
The setting is very important because what usuallyThe setting is very important because what usually
happens in the play is influenced by it. Visualhappens in the play is influenced by it. Visual
components of a setting maybe limited to a paintedcomponents of a setting maybe limited to a painted
tree, a bridge, or a hut, or it could be more elaborate.tree, a bridge, or a hut, or it could be more elaborate.
Shifts in time and space are often indicated by theShifts in time and space are often indicated by the
actors through their speech and movements.actors through their speech and movements.
In setting, the lighting plays an important role for itIn setting, the lighting plays an important role for it
shows an illusion of time. Lighting also may be used toshows an illusion of time. Lighting also may be used to
focus on an action or stress the importance of anfocus on an action or stress the importance of an
event.event.

DialogueDialogue
The words uttered by characters in a play forms aThe words uttered by characters in a play forms a
dialogue. The dialogue reveals the plot and charactersdialogue. The dialogue reveals the plot and characters
of the play. What is spoken must be suitable to theof the play. What is spoken must be suitable to the
situation and the role of the character.situation and the role of the character.
The story of any play is taken forward by means of theThe story of any play is taken forward by means of the
dialogue. The story is narrated to the audiencesdialogue. The story is narrated to the audiences
through the dialogue written by the playwright. Thethrough the dialogue written by the playwright. The
success of a drama depends hugely on the contents ofsuccess of a drama depends hugely on the contents of
the dialogue and the quality of dialogue delivery by thethe dialogue and the quality of dialogue delivery by the
actors of the play.actors of the play.

PlotPlot
The order of events occurring in a play is referred to asThe order of events occurring in a play is referred to as
the plot of the drama. It is the basic storyline that isthe plot of the drama. It is the basic storyline that is
narrated through a play. The entertainment onenarrated through a play. The entertainment one
derives from a play depends largely on the sequencederives from a play depends largely on the sequence
of events that occur in the story. The logicalof events that occur in the story. The logical
connection between the events and the characters,connection between the events and the characters,
which enact the story form an integral part of the plotwhich enact the story form an integral part of the plot
of drama.of drama.

Acts and ScenesActs and Scenes
An act is a part of a play defined by elements such asAn act is a part of a play defined by elements such as
rising action, climax and resolution.rising action, climax and resolution.
A scene is a part of an act defined with the changing ofA scene is a part of an act defined with the changing of
characterscharacters

Strategies for Reading Drama
1.Read the play silently.
2.Figure out what is happening.
3.Read stage directions carefully.
4.Get to know the characters.
5.Keep track of the plot.
6.Read the play aloud.

Conclusion
Still, there is far more that Drama can do. At
the center of all drama is communication. Like
all the arts, drama allows students to
communicate with and understand others in
new ways. Perhaps more than any other art
form, drama also provides training in the very
practical aspects of communication so
necessary in today’s increasingly information-
centered world.

English: Drama

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