What Is Drama

What’s with this name?
Directions: Using the organizer below, write down words associated with drama.
DRAMA
A. DIRECTIONS: WRITE TRUE IF THE STATEMENT IS
CORRECT AND FALSE IF IT IS INCORRECT. USE THE SPACE
PROVIDED.
• __________ 1. A drama is a type of literature that is written for the purpose of being read
in front of an audience.
__________ 2. Scene is a single situation or unit of dialogue in a play.
• __________ 3. Act is composed of many scenes.
• __________ 4. Comedy is a form of drama in which there is a display of human suffering
and catharsis for the audience
• __________ 5. Tragedy is a form of entertainment meant to be humorous.
WHAT IS
DRAMA?
• Drama comes from the greek word,
“dran” which means “to do” or “to act”.
Doing/acting makes drama.
• It is the presentation of actions on a stage
through actors/actress before an
audience. Like a short story or novel, it
has a setting, characters, plot, and even
BUT WHAT MAKES DRAMA
UNIQUE?
•Drama has one characteristic
peculiar to itself—it is written
primarily to be performed, not
read
TWO TYPES OF DRAMA
1.TRAGEDY
Is a form of drama in which events lead to the downfall of the main
character, often a person of great significance, like a king or hero .
Example: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare 2.
2.COMEDY
•Is a form of drama that has a happy
ending. Humor comes from the
dialogue and situations.
•Example: the knaves of shakespeare
ELEMENTS OF DRAMA
• 1. Literary elements aristotle’s six elements
• 1.1 plot refers to the action; the basic storyline of the
play.
INITIAL PRELIMINA RISING
INCIDENT RY EVENT ACTION
FALLING
ACTION FALLING
CLIMAX
ACTION
1.2 THEME
•Refers to the message that is intended
to be expressed through the story. In
other words, it is the main idea or the
lesson to be learned from the play.
CHARACTERS AND
ACTORS
• 1.3 characters and actors- the people
(sometimes animals or ideas) portrayed by
the actors. Typically, each character, both
major and minor, is listed alongside a brief
description of the character's role in the
story.
CHARACTERIZATION
•Is the way the playwright/author
presents a character.
•1. Protagonist is the main
character of a story.
2.ANTAGONIST
Is the opposite of a protagonist.
Usually the villain or opponent of
the main character.
3. ROUND CHARACTER
•Are complex and undergo
development.
4. FLAT CHARACTER
•Are relatively uncomplicated
and do not change throughout
the whole story.
1.4 DIALOGUE
•Refers to words written by
the playwright and spoken
by the characters in the
FORMS OF DIALOGUE:
• It is the conversation between two or more characters is
referred to as dialogue (usually the majority of speech in
plays consists of dialogue). A monologue is when one
character delivers a speech to convey his or her thoughts,
although other characters may remain on stage in scene.
Similar to a monologue, a soliloquy is a speech made by
one character but delivered when he or she is alone on
•). A monologue is when one character
delivers a speech to convey his or her
thoughts, although other characters may
remain on stage in scene. Similar to a
monologue, a soliloquy is a speech made
by one character but delivered when he or
she is alone on stage.
1.5 MUSIC/RHYTHM
Referring to the rhythm of the actors’ voice as they
speak
• 1.6 SPECTACLE – Refers to the visual elements

of a play: set, costumes, special effects.
ELEMENTS OF DRAMA IN THE MODERN
THEATER
• ELEMENTS OF DRAMA IN THE MODERN THEATER
• CHARACTERS PLOT THEME DIALOGUE CONVENTION – REFERS TO
TECHNIQUES/METHODS
GENRE – TYPE OF PLAY AUDIENCE

2. Technical elements
• 2.1 scene (set) refers to the theatrical equipment
• 2.2 costumes refers to clothing and accessories used by actors to portray
characters
• 2.3 properties any movable object that appears on stage
• 2.4 sound refers to the effects an audience hears during the performance
• 2.5 lights
• 2.6 makeup includes costumes, wigs, and body paints used to transform
characters
OTHER ELEMENTS
•
Playwright- the author of a play
1.
(script)
2. Script- the written pages of a play. Scripts are divided
into acts and scenes. Acts- long sections of a play, made up of
multiple scenes, usually designed to separate the play into its main
parts and to give the audience a “break” from the performance.
• Scenes- shorter sections of a play, usually each scene

occurs in one location at a specific time. Multiple scenes
make up an act. It is often signaled by the entrance or exit of
a character or change in setting or focus of the action
• EXAMPLE FROM AUGUST WILSON'S FENCES
• ACT I SCENE 2
the lights come up on rose hanging up clothes.
she hums and sings softly to herself. it is the following
morning.
rose. (sings.) jesus, be a fence all around me every day jesus, i
want you to protect me as i travel on my way.
jesus, be a fence all around me every day. (troy enters from
the house)
•3. SETTING
• The place, together with other conditions, such as time and
the environment, involved in which the events occur. The
setting in the drama can be presented through the visual
element deals with the scenes, costumes and special effects
used in it. The setting can as well be enhanced by using
viewable elements, sound effects, and music.
4. CONFLICT
• The internal or external struggle that creates dramatic tension.
• Internal conflict
• ▪ person vs self external conflict
• ▪ person vs. Fate/god
• Person vs. Person
• ▪ person vs society
• ▪ Person vs. Nature
• ▪ Person vs. Supernatural
• ▪ person vs. Technology
TECHNIQUES IN DRAMA
• 1. Vocal dynamics – actors need to expand their vocal toolbox and learn
about the ways that range, pitch, and pronunciation which affect
performance
• 2. Body language and mannerisms - actors bring their characters to life by

moving, reacting, and even standing in nuanced ways that are natural for
their character.
• 3. Use and awareness of space - actors need to be aware not just of your
“marks” on stage, but also of the actors who must interact with or move
COMMON LITERARY DEVICES USED IN
DRAMA
• • FIGURES OF SPEECH –
Words that
goes its literal meaning.
•METAPHOR - Are one of the most extensively
used literary devices. A metaphor refers to a meaning or
identity ascribed to one subject by way of another. In a
metaphor, one subject is implied to be another so as to draw a
comparison between their similarities and shared traits.
• For example: a rose (object) is substituted for love (feeling)
“henry was a lion on the battlefield.”
• SIMILES
• Are one of the most commonly used literary devices; referring to

the practice of drawing parallels or comparisons between two
unrelated and dissimilar things, people, beings, places and concepts.
Similes are marked by the use of the words ‘as’ or ‘such as’ or ‘like’
• For example: he is like a mouse in front of the teacher.

• • IMAGERY - The author’s attempt to create a mental
picture in the mind of the reader. It appeals to the
senses.
• For example: visual imagery - it was dark in the

forest… olfactory imagery (smell) – she whiffed the
sweet aroma of his drink tactile imagery (touch) - she
held it with her rough hand the soft pillow.
• • SYMBOLISM - When an object is meant to be representative of
something or an idea greater than the object itself or it is the frequent
use of words, places, characters, or objects that mean something beyond
what they are on a literal level.
• For example: a writer uses the word ‘blood’ once its meaning will be
confined to that instance in which it is used. But if the word is used
repeatedly, as it is in plays like macbeth and romeo and juliet it
expresses some profound ideas. By using a word repeatedly in different
contexts it expresses several interlocking themes. In romeo and juliet
‘blood’ refers to all the following and more themes: violence, youth,
passion, family ties.
•• DRAMATIC IRONY – Involves the
reader (or audience) knowing
something about what's happening
in the plot, about which the
character(s) have no knowledge.
• For example: from romeo and juliet “alack,
there lies more peril in thine eye / than twenty
of their swords! Look thou but sweet, / and I
am proof against their enmity” (act 2, scene
2). Romeo tries to reassure juliet by claiming
he is invincible to her family's hostility, but
the audience knows that the young lovers are
doomed to die as a result of the feud.
• • FORESHADOWING refers to the use of indicative
words/phrases and hints that set the stage for a story to unfold
and give the reader a hint of something that is going to happen
without revealing the story or spoiling the suspense.
Foreshadowing is used to suggest an upcoming outcome to the
story.
• Example: “he had no idea of the disastrous chain of events to

follow.

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What’s with this name?

• 1.6 SPECTACLE – Refers to the visual elements

• ELEMENTS OF DRAMA IN THE MODERN THEATER

• CHARACTERS PLOT THEME DIALOGUE CONVENTION – REFERS TO

GENRE – TYPE OF PLAY AUDIENCE

• Scenes- shorter sections of a play, usually each scene

• 2. Body language and mannerisms - actors bring their characters to life by

• Are one of the most commonly used literary devices; referring to

• For example: he is like a mouse in front of the teacher.

• For example: visual imagery - it was dark in the

• Example: “he had no idea of the disastrous chain of events to

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