Ask yourself

• How does drama provide the reader a different experience than prose (short stories, novels) or poetry?

• How is drama different from television?

• Comes from the Greek Word, “Dran” • Means “To do” or “To Act”• The Doing/Acting Makes Drama

What does it mean?

…a story told in front of an audience

What it it?

• Playwright: the author of a play• Actors: the people who

perform• Acts: the units of action • Scenes: parts of the acts

Elements of Drama

• Dialogue: conversation between or among characters

• Monologue: long speech by one single character (private thoughts)

Speech in Drama

The internal or external struggle between opposing forces, ideas, or interests that create dramatic tension.

Conflict

• Found in brackets [ ]• Describe scenery and how characters speak• C, Center Stage• L, Stage Left• R, Stage Right• U, Upstage or Rear • D, Downstage or Front

Stage Directions

Where a play takes place

Theatre

• Construction on the stage that shows time/place

• Could be called scenery

Set

• Drama is used to describe plays that address a serious subject.

• Comedy is a form of drama that has a happy ending. Humor comes from the dialogue and situations.

• 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.

Types of Drama