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Drama
7th English Course
Mrs. Quiñones
 Drama:
A drama, or play, is a story told, or
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performed in front of an audience.
 Dramatic Elements: Playwright:

Is the author of the drama. The

writer.
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 Dramatic Elements: Cast/Actors
These are the people acting in the play. There are
two types of characters:

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 Dramatic Elements: Cast/Actors
Protagonist: The “good guy” or the main character.

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 Dramatic Elements: Cast/Actors
antagonist: The “bad guy” or the person against
the protagonist.

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 Dramatic Elements: Script
A script is the written “book” of the drama.

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 Dramatic Elements: Scenes
The scenes show the changes in the setting
over time.

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 Dramatic Structures: Plot
C The events that unfold throughout a
drama are called plot.
 Structure in Drama: Conflict
● External Conflict: Occurs between a character and an

outside force, such as, another character.

Example: Man vs. Man; Man vs. Nature; and Man vs. Society
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● Internal Conflict: Occurs within the mind of the character,

as when a character is torn between opposing feelings.

Example: Man vs. Self

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 Structure in Drama:
Act I: The characters, setting, and conflict, or problem, are introduced

in the exposition.

Act II: In the rising action, the protagonist, tries to solve the conflict,

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Act III: The climax, or highest point of interest, represent a turning

point in the drama. During the falling action, the plot movies toward

the resolution of the conflict

-Plays can have five acts or one act-often divided into multiple scene.
 Dramatic Elements : Acts
The “units of actions” of a drama; similar to a chapter of a book.

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 Dramatic Elements: Stage Directions
Stage directions are written instructions
for the actors. They tell the actors how to
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speak and move, and give details about
lighting, stage, and effects.
 Dramatic Elements: Stage Directions

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Dramatic Elements: Dialogue
A dialogue is what the actors or characters
say to each other.
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 Dramatic Elements:Props
Props are the objects used to bring the
drama to life.
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 Types of Drama: Comedy
Comedies are usually humorous plays. But being funny isn’t the only way to define a comedy! The

elements of a comedy include:

● Lighthearted tone (amusing or enter)

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● Clever wordplay or turns of phrase

● Serious topics addressed in a humorous way

● Comical misunderstandings

● Happy ending

● Silly, offbeat characters

● Often ends with a wedding, especially in romantic comedies

 Types of Drama: Farce
A farce is a type of broad comedy. It depends less on a narrative storyline and
more on physical humor and silly jokes. Here are the parts of a farcical comedy:

C ● Exaggerated humor
● Nonsensical storyline
● Improbable events
● One or two settings
● Humor is often crude and inappropriate
 Types of Drama: Operas
Operas are dramas in which the characters sing each line rather than speaking.
The entire production is set to a musical score. You can tell you’re watching an
opera if it includes these attributes:

● Plot-driving passages that can be non-melodic

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● A libretto (text) set to a musical score
● Subject matter that is tragic, comic, or melodramatic
● Can incorporate an element of dance, but typically relies on singing
performances
● Elaborate sets, costume design, and production
 Types of Drama: Melodrama
When you hear drama, you probably think of melodrama. Melodramas tell a serious story in
serious ways. Not sure if a drama is a melodrama? Check if it includes the following:

● Character tropes such as heroes, heroines, villains, mentors, etc.

C ● Sweeping stories of romance or serious topics
● Larger-than-life plots and circumstances (or very small stories told in big ways)
● Exaggerated character reactions
● Clear literary themes
● Flawed characters who must overcome their faults in order to reach their resolution
● Ending that is sometimes happy, sometimes unhappy
 Types of Drama: Musical Drama
It’s tempting to put opera and musical drama into the same category. However, their

production proves that there are significant differences between the two. But how can you tell

a musical drama apart from an opera? Use this checklist:

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● Periods of standard storyline interrupted by songs

● Characters often singing in unison to express feelings

● Songs as plot-changing devices

● Dramatic or comedic storylines

● Catchy, distinctive musical score

● Often lots of singing and dancing

 Types of Drama: Tragedy
Just from the word tragedy, you can assume that the ending will be sad. But there is
more to a tragedy than a play with no happy ending. You can tell if a play is a tragedy if
it includes:

C ● A protagonist with a tragic flaw

● Circumstances that quickly get out of control – and not in a funny way
● Darker themes than a melodrama, such as human suffering, hatred, or poverty
● Features the downfall of a previously heroic or well-liked character
● An irredeemable ending that results in one or more characters’ deaths
● Reaches a tragic catharsis
 Types of Drama: Tragicomedy
When you combine the elements of a comedy and a tragedy, you get a
tragicomedy! Tragicomedies are more complex than a drama with a few jokes, or
a comedy with a serious scene. Some ways to tell if you’re watching a
tragicomedy are if it has:
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● A serious storyline told in a humorous, sardonic, or snide way

● Tragically flawed characters whose actions don’t result in death
● An ambiguous theme
● Broad characters who act in classically comical ways
● Neither a happy nor a comic ending
 ♥ Enter StudySync and
open the text: “Monsters
Are Due on Maple Street”.
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