Subjects: ARTS AND HUMANITIES Deadline:

Date & Time: Teacher: ERNEST P. MACALALAD

I. TOPIC- Drama

II.TARGET OUTCOMES:
a. Understand the historical development of drama
b. Recognize the elements of drama
c. Identify the kinds of drama
d. Characterize the different kind of drama
e. Identify the characteristics of tragedy

III. GEAR UP YOUR MIND

The term “drama” is translated from a Greek word “dran” meaning “to act” and to act in drama has
come to mean “to imitate life”. The relationship between dramatic action and the life it is supposed to
imitate has long been a concern of dramatic theory and criticism, for although it imitates life, greater drama
must infuse realism into the imitation.

 Drama has one characteristic peculiar to itself, it is written primarily to be performed, not read.
 Collier encyclopedia defines drama as a kind of literature intended to be performed, acted by an
audience.
 Drama is a presentation of action
i. Through actors- its impact is direct and immediate
ii. On stage- captive audience
 Drama is a process that is geared to the participant and does not require a formal audience.

Elements of Drama

1. Plot, the sequence of the events or incidents of which the story is composed. It is the arrangement of the
incidents or actions in a story. How the author arranges events to develop the basic idea; it is the sequence
of events in the story

INTRODUCTION - The beginning of the story where the characters and the setting is revealed.
RISING ACTION - This is where the events in the story become complicated and the conflict in the
story is revealed (events between the introduction and climax).
CLIMAX - This is the highest point of interest and the turning point of the story. The reader
wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be resolved or not?
FALLING ACTION - The events and complications begin to resolve them. The reader knows what
has happened next and if the conflict was resolved or not (events between climax and
denouement).
DENOUEMENT - This is the final outcome or untangling of events in the story

2. Characters- are the persons involved in a story. It can be a man or animal. The story concerned with the
character and the problem he encounters and how he is able to surpass the problem.

A. One character is clearly central to the story with all major events having some
importance to this character - he is the Protagonist.

B. The character who opposes the protagonist is called the Antagonist.

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Character Types

Flat character is known by one or two traits

A round character is complex and many sided
Static character remains the same from the beginnings of the plot to the end
Dynamic character undergoes permanent change. This change must be within the possibilities of
the character, sufficiently motivated, allowed sufficient time for change.

3. Themes

This is the controlling idea or central insight of a drama. A theme can be a revelation of a human
character; may be stated briefly or at great length; and most importantly, a theme should not be confused
with “the moral” of the story.

A theme must be expressible in the form of a statement

A theme must be stated as a generalization about life. Names of characters or specific situations in
the plot are not to be used when stating a theme.
A theme must not be a generalization larger than what is justified by the terms of the story.

4. Points of View- This refers to the position of the narrator or speaker in the story.
First person point of view is the creation of the author. It uses (I, me, we, us)
Second Person point of view, the story is told to another character using the pronouns you, your
and yours.
Third Person omniscient does not have central character. The authors present actions and
thoughts of all characters.
Third person limited focuses on the actions, thoughts and feelings of the main character.

5. Setting is where and when the story happened. It is the time, place, and event. That allows reader to
better understand the story. Setting also affects the mood of the scene.

Kinds of Drama

Comedy

Comedy is a literary genre and a type of dramatic work that is amusing and satirical in its tone, mostly
having a cheerful ending. The motif of this dramatic work is triumph over unpleasant circumstance by
creating comic effects, resulting in a happy or successful conclusion

Comedies are usually humorous plays. But being funny isn’t the only way to define a comedy! The
elements of a comedy include:

 Lighthearted tone
 Clever wordplay or turns of phrase
 Serious topics addressed in a humorous way
 Comical misunderstandings
 Happy ending
 Silly, offbeat characters
 Often ends with a wedding, especially in romantic comedies

One of the most famous examples of a comedy is William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.
Beatrice and Benedick transition from foes to lovers with clever banter and more than a few silly
misunderstandings. And, like all proper Shakespearean comedies, it ends with a wedding!

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Farce

A farce is a comedy in which everything is absolutely absurd. This usually involves some kind of deception
or miscommunication. When a comedy is based on a case of mistaken identity, for example, you can be
sure that it’s going to be a farce. Slapstick humor and physical comedy are also common features of a
farce.

A farce is a type of broad comedy. It depends less on a narrative storyline and more on physical humor,
sight gags, and silly jokes. Here are the parts of a farcical comedy:

 Exaggerated humor
 Slapstick gags
 Nonsensical storyline
 Improbable events
 One or two settings
 Humor is often crude and inappropriate

For a film reference, think of anything by Monty Python or National Lampoon. On the stage, the absurd
humor in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot (pictured above) is a farcical commentary on life, religion, and
human relationships.

Opera

Operas are dramas in which the characters sing each line rather than speaking. The entire
production is set to a musical score. You can tell you’re watching an opera if it includes these attributes:

One of the most famous operas of all time is Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme. It tells the tragic story of
Rodolfo, Mimi, and the world of French Bohemia. Set to one of opera’s most memorable scores, the story
reveals itself over the course of a year.

Musical Drama

It’s tempting to put opera and musical drama into the same category. However, their production proves that
there are significant differences between the two.

Many musicals, such as Les Miserables or Phantom of the Opera, (pictured above) are adapted from
longer literary works. Both of these musical dramas express their themes directly through song and
progress the plot with musical numbers. They simplify their source material by putting the most important
characters and story elements on the stage.

Tragedy

Tragedy is an event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident,
crime, or natural catastrophe.

Just from the word tragedy, you can assume that the ending will be sad. But there is more to a tragedy than
a play with no happy ending. You can tell if a play is a tragedy if it includes:

 A protagonist with a tragic flaw

 Circumstances that quickly get out of control – and not in a funny way
 Darker themes than a melodrama, such as human suffering, hatred, or poverty
 Features the downfall of a previously heroic or well-liked character
 An irredeemable ending that results in one or more characters’ deaths
 Reaches a tragic catharsis

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Shakespeare has any number of tragedies to choose from. But few can rival Othello for its cruel villain, its
hero’s tragic downfall, and its desperately sad ending. Othello loses everything he has ever loved or
wanted because he can’t trust that he deserves the life he has.

Japanese Drama

1. Noh Play

This is the oldest of the tree traditional forms of drama among Japanese. Noh play is a poetic
treatment of history, love story, war story, and legend, influenced by the religious beliefs of Buddhism and
Shintoism.

2. Joruri Play

This involves a puppet manipulation to a higher level involving complicated skills, including
movements of tongue, finger, joints and eyelids.

3. Kabuki Drama
This is the most popular Japanese drama. In Kabuki, settings and costumes are lavish,
acting is extremely broad and exaggerated, and heavy make-up is used instead of mask. It is
famous for its spectacular visual effects.

Chinese Drama
1. . Vun Pan Shi- It has patriotism and filial devotion as its subjects. Music and action unite to play
upon the emotion of the audience. This is the oldest Chinese drama
2. Sin Pan Shi- It presents civil and military conditions.
3. Vun Min Shi- otherwise known as the modern play. Colloquial dialects are allowed in Vun Min Shi.

Philippine Drama

Even before theater houses were built, the Filipinos have already utilized the stage on a make shift
platforms where to stage drama in order “to celebrate fiestas, special occasions, and honoring guests, or to
dramatize their religious beliefs and patrons. (Cabalu, p.102)

Before Spanish period, “Duplo” and “Karagatan” were the early notable forms of drama. Both duplo
and karagatan are focused on the theme about ring that fell into the sea. Both are poetical debate. The
difference is that, the performers of duplo are highly trained while performers of karagatan are amateur.

The first recorded drama was staged in Cebu in 1598. It was a “comedia” written by Vicente Puche
and was performed in honor of Msgr. Pedro de Agusto, Cebu first Bishop. After 11 years, in 1609 another
stage play portraying the life of Santa Barbara was staged in Bicol.

Dramatic Forms in the Philippines During Spanish Period

1. Carillo or Shadow Play- it is held before a lam, are shadows of cardboard figures projected on
screen. A prompter provides the dialogue with a story line taken from legends, fables, or metrical
romances.
2. Comedia or Moro-moro- stories revolve around battles between Christians and Muslims presented
with choreography and colorful costumes.
3. Loa- a short performance presented before a long drama to introduce the main drama and praise
its performance.
4. Panuluyan- a street play dramatizing the rooming-in of Mary and Joseph for shelter in Bethlehem
during Christmas Eve.
5. Cenaculo or Sinakulo- this dramatize the passion of Jesus Christ.
6. Tibag (means tear down)- the re-enactment of Emperor Constantine’s Empress Helena’s search
for the Holy Cross.

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 7. Salubong- re-enacting the meeting of Mary and the resurrected Jesus Christ.
8. Zarzuela or Sarzuela- it depicts political conditions of our country, or feelings, of love, fear, grief,
sorrow or any sublime emotion.

NAME: DATE:
YEAR/COURSE/SECTION: SCORE:

V. LEVEL UP YOUR LEARNING

Art Work

Movie/Drama Analysis

1. Watch the movie the 3 Idiots, and make a movie reflection paper from
it.

Guide Questions

1. Did you learn anything from this movie? If you did, what was it?
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2. What did you like best about the movie? Why?
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3. Did anything that happened in this movie remind you of something that has occurred in your own
life or that you have seen occur to others?
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4. If you had a chance to ask a character in this movie a question, what would it be?
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5. If you were writing the screenplay for this movie, would you have changed the ending? Explain
your answer.
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