Elements of Drama by Macrina Pochatko

Types of Drama

macrina_pochatko — 2015-12-10 21:51:17 UTC

There are three types of drama

Comedy

macrina_pochatko — 2015-12-10 22:01:48 UTC

A comedy is a play that involves humor and usually has a happy ending like Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

Comedy

macrina_pochatko — 2015-12-10 22:04:05 UTC

A comedy is a play that involves humor and usually has a happy ending like Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

Tragedy

macrina_pochatko — 2015-12-10 22:06:10 UTC

A tragedy is a play that has serious themes and has a "tragic hero" like Shakespeare's Macbeth.

History

macrina_pochatko — 2015-12-11 00:52:00 UTC

A history is a play that is set in the past, like a historical fiction play, like William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

Dramatic Terms

macrina_pochatko — 2015-12-11 00:54:01 UTC

Irony

macrina_pochatko — 2015-12-17 01:39:08 UTC

Moments that involve contradictions that are amusing, surprising, or groan-worthy. Dramatic irony is a contradiction between what the audience knows and the character thinks

Script

macrina_pochatko — 2015-12-17 01:55:10 UTC

The script includes the lines the actors deliver and stage directions along with a list and short descriptions of each character and set

Character

macrina_pochatko — 2016-01-04 23:35:44 UTC

Someone who is written in the script, whether a person, animal, or other. They do not have to talk, but can do something, like walk across the stage

Dialogue

macrina_pochatko — 2016-01-06 16:14:46 UTC

Lines the characters speak to each other.

Monologue

macrina_pochatko — 2016-01-06 16:18:52 UTC

When a character gives a speech when he/she is alone.

Aside

macrina_pochatko — 2016-01-06 16:29:08 UTC

An aside is when a character talks by him/herself to the audience while other characters are on stage. The other characters do not hear the character speaking, and it is just meant to express inner feelings to the audience. The other characters can freeze or ignore the character talking while they go about their business to show that the character is not speaking to them.

Exposition

macrina_pochatko — 2016-01-06 16:32:58 UTC

A straight-forward speech to the audience to give them information about the characters, setting and/or plot of the play.

Stage Directions

macrina_pochatko — 2016-01-06 16:34:50 UTC

Stage directions are words in the script that are not spoken. They can give information to the actors about the characters or setting. They can be in parenthesis or italicized. They also serve to inform the actor how to deliver lines and actions to perform as the character.

Enter and Exit

macrina_pochatko — 2016-01-06 16:38:41 UTC

An enter is a stage direction that tells the character to come onto the stage either to deliver lines or perform some action. An exit is a stage direction that tells the character to leave the stage temporarily or permanently. These usually give which side they enter from and exit towards and how they do so.

Act

macrina_pochatko — 2016-01-06 16:41:12 UTC

A major section of the play that has multiple scenes in it. Similar to when a book is separated into parts, with chapters in each part.

Scene

macrina_pochatko — 2016-01-06 16:43:19 UTC

A smaller part that makes up an act. They count up from one and restart in a new act. Ex. Act I Scene V, Act II Scene I. They give a brief description of specific time or location, and if a different time or location is supposed to be introduced. Usually ends when all characters exit stage.

Chorus

macrina_pochatko — 2016-01-06 16:47:49 UTC

A person or group who speaks the prologue and epilogue and can make asides to comment on the plot

Extra

macrina_pochatko — 2016-01-06 16:49:05 UTC

An extra is someone who does not have any lines or important actions. They are not always credited, but if they are it is what they are, for example, Angry Man, Boy, Baker.