Download Drama - TeacherWeb

Drama
Acting Out
*
What Is Drama?
Drama is a story written to be acted in
front of an audience.
●
Drama can be enjoyed in its written form
(script), as well.
Digital Image copyright © 2003 Eyewire, Inc.
●
*
Although drama shares many
elements with stories, essays,
and poetry, it is
fundamentally different from
these forms because it is
designed to be performed for
an audience.
*
What Makes Drama Unique?
●
When you read drama, you give your
imagination a workout. As you read,
notice the elements that make drama a
unique form of literature.
Dialogue is the conversation among
characters.
● Stage directions are the playwright’s notes
to actors, directors, and readers. They reveal
information about sets, movements, and
emotion.
●
*
STAGE DIRECTIONS
●
●
●
Printed in italics and enclosed in square
brackets.
They include descriptions of what the
characters, costumes, sets, and props look
like.
They also give instructions about special
effects (sound and lighting) and how the
actors should move and speak.
*
Elements of Drama
●
Like other forms of storytelling, drama
has the basic elements of:
●
●
●
●
●
character
setting
Plot
Point of View
Theme
*
Drama and Characters
●
A character is a person or an animal in a
play.
●
In a play a character’s personality can be
revealed in several ways:
how the character looks
● what the character says
● how the character acts
●
*
Drama and Setting
●
Setting is the time and place of a play.
●
Setting helps create the mood of a play
through
scenery—the background of the play
● stage props—various items on the stage, such
as furniture
● costumes—what the actors are wearing
●
*
Drama and Plot
●
Like other forms of storytelling, the plot
of a drama will include:
exposition—introduces the play’s basic
situation
● conflict—shows the play’s main struggle
● climax—the play’s most exciting point
● resolution—concludes the play and works
out its conflict
●
*
The Structure of Drama
●
Plays are usually broken up into smaller
parts called acts.
Acts can be broken up into even smaller
parts called scenes.
● Acts often end at an exciting moment.
●
*
Soliloquy
●
A long speech delivered by a character
who is (technically) alone onstage.
●
Ex. Romeo’s soliloquy in Act II, scene 2
●
But, soft! what light through yonder window
breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou her maid art far more fair than she:
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
It is my lady, O, it is my love!
O, that she knew she were!
She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that?
Her eye discourses; I will answer it.
*
Why Use Soliloquies?
●
●A soliloquy is used to reveal
the private thoughts and
emotions of the character.
● Why is Romeo sneaking around in
Juliet’s backyard? He is in love with
her! Now we know.
*
Asides & Monologues
● An Aside is when, in a play, a comment is made by
a character, but not heard by the other characters
onstage.
● A Monologue is like a Soliloquy in that they involve
one, solitary speaker. The difference is in who is
listening. A Monologue is performed to an
audience (within the play or auditorium) while a
Soliloquy is the character speaking to
himself/herself.
● Like Soliloquies, these are also frequently used to
provide information to the audience and to reveal
the thoughts of characters.
*
The End
*