A Lesson on the Elements of Drama

Literature and Composition

What is Drama?

Drama is written to be performed by actors. The script consists of dialogue and monologue and stage directions.

Types of Plays… Comedy – a humorous play with a happy

ending Tragedy – a play in which a hero suffers a

major downfall Drama – a serious play, although the

consequences are not as dire as those in a tragedy

Dialogue and Monologue Dialogue – a

conversation between two or more characters

Monologue – a lengthy speech that one character addresses to others on a stage

What is this an example of ?ISMENE: Antigone, you are mad! What could

I possibly do?

ANTIGONE: You must decide whether you will help me or not.

ISMENE: I do not understand you. Help you in what?

Monologue vs. Soliloquy A soliloquy is a long speech expressing

the thoughts of a character alone on stage

A monologue is a speech by one character in a play, story, or poem. A monologue may be addressed to another character or to the audience.

Aside A speech directed to the audience

that supposedly is not audible to the other characters onstage at the time.

TYPE of monologue. EXAMPLE:

Zack Morris on Saved by the Bell

Plot Plot – series of events

Incidents in a story that shape the action and give the story a particular focus.

Plot is not just what happens, but also how and why things happen the way they do.

(Label the plot chart below!)

Conflict A conflict is a struggle between two

opposing forces. Types:

Internal – a character in conflict with himself or herself

External – a character struggles against an outside force

Structure of a Drama A dramatic text is divided into two

sections, ACTS and SCENES. ACT – larger unit of a play. Nearly all

Shakespearian plays have five acts. SCENE – smaller unit of a play. Multiple

scenes are in each act. EXAMPLE: Act I, scene ii

(First Act, second scene)

Now you try! Write a short script that includes dialogue

and conflict. It can be a comedy or a tragedy. You must have at least 10 lines of dialogue. You can work with a partner!

Be creative!