The Structure of Drama

1
The Structure of Drama

• Chapter 5

2
Aristotle

• A Greek philosopher (384-322 B.C.)
• Stressed that drama is an imitation of life, that
  we learn through imitation, and that learning
  brings pleasure in life
• Identified plot as the most important element of
  a play

3
Aristotles Key Elements of a Play

• Spectacle (the visual)
• Sound (the audible part)
• Diction (language)
• Character
• Reasoning (how speech presents all parts of a
  play, including emotional responses)
• Plot (action/events)

4
3 Unities

• Unity of Action have a beginning, middle, and
  endlogical order, believable, reveal a universal
  truth
• Unity of Time action should take place within a
  24 hour period
• Unity of Place (added later by the French and
  Italian of the 16th cent.) action should occur in
  one place

5
Breaking the Rules

• Today many of these traditional rules are
  broken.
• Plot Structure not always 3 or 5 acts as
  tradition (now several scenes or 2 parts)
• Style has been influenced by performance space
  (not just performed on a proscenium stage now
  arena and thrust open stages used)

6
Homework

• Read pages 252-261
• Complete the vocabulary worksheet