Popular form of theatre and literature in the 1800

1
Melodrama

• Popular form of theatre and literature in the
  1800s
• Originated in France
• Popular in England, France, and America

2
Characteristics of Melodrama

• Stock characters
• Companies toured
• Plot driven, not character driven
• Implausible plots
• Good vs. Evil-hero always wins (clear cut
  morality)
• Focused on the suffering of an innocent
• Climaxes at the end of every act
• Included emotional appeals through which an
  author could introduce controversial views
  without offending

3
The melodramatic and implausible plot

• Based on classical tragic structure, but is plot
  driven rather than character driven
• Hero always triumphs in the end
• Good vs. evil (clear cut morality)
• Focused on the suffering of an innocent
• Climaxes at the end of every act
• Included emotional appeals through which an
  author could introduce controversial views
  without offending

4
Stock Characters

• Heroes have no tragic flaw (no kryptonite for the
  melodramatic hero)

5
Stock Characters

• Heroines are completely beautiful, perfect, and
  innocent

6
Stock Characters

• Villains are as evil as the devil himself

7
Stock Characters

• The virtuous maiden was always threatened by the
  villain and then she was saved by the hero

8
Other characteristics of the plot

• Treated common people with dignity
• Increased focus on historical accuracy,
  especially in representing the exotic or folkways
  of a certain ethic group.

9
Spectacular! Spectacular!

• Staged spectacles (natural disasters, animals on
  stage, etc.)
• Increased realism on stage with use of level
  stage floor, movable scenery, and the
  introduction of box sets

10
Box Set
11
Answer this question

• How does Melodrama fit the characteristics of
  Romanticism?

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Open-Response

• Melodramas include characteristics such as
  implausible plots, stock characters, respect for
  common people, spectacular staging, cliffhangers,
  good vs. evil, and emotional appeals. Choose a
  modern-day melodrama from film, TV or theatre and
  explain how it fits THREE of the characteristics
  of melodrama.