Elements of DramaElements of Drama

Literature in Literature in ActionAction

A Shared ExperienceA Shared ExperienceLiterature of all kinds can help us Literature of all kinds can help us seesee, ,

exploreexplore, and , and come to know ourselvescome to know ourselves and our and our worldworld..

Drama speaks to us in a unique way; it Drama speaks to us in a unique way; it brings stories to life.brings stories to life.

Many people are involved in bringing a Many people are involved in bringing a playwright’s work to life:playwright’s work to life:

The producer, the The producer, the directordirector, the , the actorsactors, the , the set and lighting designersset and lighting designers, , and even the and even the audienceaudience share in the act share in the act of creation.of creation.

Basic Dramatic PrinciplesBasic Dramatic PrinciplesThe first question to ask in thinking The first question to ask in thinking

about a dramatic work is:about a dramatic work is:WHO WANTS WHAT?WHO WANTS WHAT?The character who wants something is The character who wants something is

opposed by another character or force.opposed by another character or force.

Based on your knowledge of Based on your knowledge of literature, what is this opposition literature, what is this opposition known as?known as?

CONFLICTCONFLICT

The person with The person with “the want”“the want” drives the drives the action of the action of the play.play.

Basic Dramatic PrinciplesBasic Dramatic Principles

Additional problems are also known Additional problems are also known as as complications.complications.

The The climaxclimax is the moment of greatest is the moment of greatest emotional intensity.emotional intensity.

The climax is followed by the The climax is followed by the resolutionresolution, , when the conflict is when the conflict is resolved and the story comes to a resolved and the story comes to a close.close.

Basic Dramatic PrinciplesBasic Dramatic Principles

In review, the four steps that make In review, the four steps that make up the basic dramatic principles are:up the basic dramatic principles are:1) conflict1) conflict2) complications2) complications3) climax3) climax4) resolution4) resolution

Conflict ExampleConflict Example

A lawyer who is down on her luck A lawyer who is down on her luck gets one last chance to prove her gets one last chance to prove her worth by defending a shady-looking worth by defending a shady-looking client. If she loses this case, she’s client. If she loses this case, she’s through.through.

On your sheet, sum up the conflict On your sheet, sum up the conflict here in your own words.here in your own words.

Complications Arise…Complications Arise…

While hunting down the important While hunting down the important testimony, she finds that her life is testimony, she finds that her life is threatened. At the same time she threatened. At the same time she must overcome her own doubts must overcome her own doubts about her client’s innocence.about her client’s innocence.

On your sheet, explain the On your sheet, explain the complications that have arose.complications that have arose.

ClimaxClimax

Finally, in a dramatic courtroom scene, Finally, in a dramatic courtroom scene, she brilliantly cross-examines a she brilliantly cross-examines a witness and proves that he is lying.witness and proves that he is lying.

On your sheet, explain the climax.On your sheet, explain the climax.

ResolutionResolution

The jury acquits her client. The The jury acquits her client. The conflict is resolved: The lawyer is conflict is resolved: The lawyer is back on top of her profession.back on top of her profession.

On your sheet, explain the resolution On your sheet, explain the resolution in your own words.in your own words.

Characters in CrisisCharacters in Crisis

Every play centers on a crisis, a Every play centers on a crisis, a situation of danger or difficulty that situation of danger or difficulty that places at risk something of great places at risk something of great value to the characters: life, love, value to the characters: life, love, family pride, anything that is family pride, anything that is precious to them.precious to them.

Characters in CrisisCharacters in Crisis

A crisis may arise because…A crisis may arise because…

The characters want something for The characters want something for which they must struggle with someone which they must struggle with someone else or with themselves.else or with themselves.

ORORThe characters want to remove a threat The characters want to remove a threat

to their safety or happiness.to their safety or happiness.

Making a ChangeMaking a Change

Most plays are about change in: Most plays are about change in: the the characterscharacters and and in their in their relationshipsrelationships..

Dramatic Irony: Knowing the Dramatic Irony: Knowing the FutureFuture

Irony is Irony is a contrast between a contrast between expectation and reality.expectation and reality.

Dramatic irony Dramatic irony occurs when the occurs when the audience watching a play know audience watching a play know something that the characters something that the characters onstage do not know.onstage do not know. This This sometimes includes what awaits sometimes includes what awaits them in the future.them in the future.

Example – a play about the Example – a play about the Titanic. Titanic.

The Shock of RecognitionThe Shock of Recognition If a play succeeds, we feel what has If a play succeeds, we feel what has

been called the been called the shock of recognition shock of recognition – meaning we recognize behaviors or – meaning we recognize behaviors or characteristics of people onstage characteristics of people onstage within ourselves or people we know.within ourselves or people we know.

Examples:Examples:We laugh when the foolish behavior of a We laugh when the foolish behavior of a

character reminds us of ourselves.character reminds us of ourselves.We cry when the anguish of a character We cry when the anguish of a character

reminds us of something we have gone reminds us of something we have gone through.through.