The Elements of Drama

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The Elements of Drama

• 7th Grade Language Arts

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Essential Question

• How does drama provide the reader a different
  experience than prose (short stories, novels) or
  poetry?
• How is drama different from television?

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Drama

• Comes from the Greek Word, Dran
• Means To do or To Act
• The Doing/Acting Makes Drama

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Drama

• is a story told in front of an audience

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Elements of Drama

• Playwright-the author of a play
• Actors-the people who perform
• Acts-the units of action
• Scenes-parts of the acts

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Dramatic Speech

• Dialogue-conversation between or among characters
• Monologue-long speech by one single character
  (private thoughts)

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Conflict

• The internal or external struggle between
  opposing forces, ideas, or interests that create
  dramatic tension.

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Stage Directions

• Found in brackets
• Describe scenery and how characters speak
• C, Center Stage
• L, Stage Left
• R, Stage Right
• U, Upstage or Rear
• D, Downstage or Front

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Theatre

• Where a play takes place

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Set

• Construction on the stage that shows time/place
• Could be called Scenery

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Props

• Small movable items that the actors use to make
  actions look real

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Characterization

• Is the playwrights technique for creating
  believable characters.
• Indirect
• Direct

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Types of Drama

• Drama is used to describe plays that address a
  serious subject.

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Types of Drama

• Comedy is a form of drama that has a happy
  ending. Humor comes from the dialogue and
  situations.

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Types of Drama

• Tragedy is a form of drama in which events lead
  to the downfall of the main character, often a
  person of great significance, like a king or
  hero.