Unit 1: Conventions and Elements of Literary Genres

Lesson 1.4
Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Drama
Contents
Introduction 1

Learning Objectives 2

Let’s Begin 2

Discover 6
Elements of Drama 6
Plot and Dramatic Action 6
Role and Character, Relationships, and Tension 6
Setting, Situation, Mood, and Atmosphere 7
Voice, Movement, and Focus 8
Language and Symbolism 9
Comparison with Prose and Poetry 15

Wrap-Up 16

Try This! 17

Practice Your Writing Skills 17

Bibliography 20
Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres

Lesson 1.4

Conventions, Elements, and

Techniques of Drama

Introduction
We already know from a previous lesson that drama has a lot in common with fiction and
nonfiction. All three genres share elements that aid in storytelling. What is interesting to
note about drama, however, is that oftentimes works of drama are written to be performed
on stage, in front of an audience. How does this affect the elements of drama? What
techniques do writers employ when writing drama? How does it compare to the other
literary genres?

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Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres

Learning Objectives DepEd Learning Competencies

In this lesson, you should be able to do the
following:
● Explain the major conventions,
elements, and techniques of
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to do
the following:
● Identify dominant literary conventions of a
particular genre.
● Analyze and interpret the theme and
techniques used in a particular text.

drama. ● Create samples of the different literary

elements based on one’s experience [e.g.,
● Compare and contrast drama metaphor to describe an emotion]
with fiction and poetry. (HUMSS_CNF11/12-1b-d-4).

Let’s Begin

What is it About Drama? 10 minutes

Take a look at the excerpt of a drama below. Given that excerpt, try to see if you can identify
any of its parts that clearly show that it is a drama. In other words, what makes a text a
drama text? What are its unique elements?

Instructions
1. Read the excerpt below.
2. Identify the unique qualities of a drama text that is not found in other literary genres.
3. Partner up with a classmate and compare what you’ve found.

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Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres

FIRST ACT
SCENE

Morning-room in Algernon’s flat in Half-Moon Street. The

room is luxuriously and artistically furnished. The sound of a
piano is heard in the adjoining room.

[Lane is arranging afternoon tea on the table, and after the

music has ceased, Algernon enters.]

ALGERNON.
Did you hear what I was playing, Lane?

LANE.
I didn’t think it polite to listen, sir.

ALGERNON.
I’m sorry for that, for your sake. I don’t play accurately—any
one can play accurately—but I play with wonderful
expression. As far as the piano is concerned, sentiment is my
forte. I keep science for Life.

LANE.
Yes, sir.

ALGERNON.
And, speaking of the science of Life, have you got the
cucumber sandwiches cut for Lady Bracknell?

LANE.
Yes, sir. [Hands them on a salver.] salver (noun):
serving tray

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Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres

ALGERNON.
[Inspects them, takes two, and sits down on the sofa.] Oh! . .
. by the way, Lane, I see from your book that on Thursday
night, when Lord Shoreman and Mr. Worthing were dining
with me, eight bottles of champagne are entered as having
been consumed.

LANE.
Yes, sir; eight bottles and a pint.

ALGERNON.
Why is it that at a bachelor’s establishment the servants
invariably drink the champagne? I ask merely for
information.

LANE.
I attribute it to the superior quality of the wine, sir. I have
often observed that in married households the champagne
is rarely of a first-rate brand.

ALGERNON.
Good heavens! Is marriage so demoralising as that?

LANE.
I believe it is a very pleasant state, sir. I have had very little
experience of it myself up to the present. I have only been
married once. That was in consequence of a
misunderstanding between myself and a young person.

languidly
ALGERNON.
(adverb): in a
[Languidly.] I don’t know that I am much interested in your
sluggish manner
family life, Lane.

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Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres

LANE.
No, sir; it is not a very interesting subject. I never think of it
myself.

ALGERNON.
Very natural, I am sure. That will do, Lane, thank you.

LANE.
Thank you, sir. [Lane goes out.]

An excerpt from The Importance of Being Earnest

Oscar Wilde

Guide Questions
1. What unique elements of drama were you able to identify?
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2. How do these elements differentiate drama from the other literary genres?
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3. Why do you think these unique elements are important to drama?

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Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres

Discover
Our last stop before diving into creative nonfiction is the literary genre, drama. We’ve
already noted some similarities and differences between drama and the other genres in a
previous lesson. Now, we will be taking a closer look at drama and its elements.

How does familiarizing yourself with drama improve

your writing in other genres?

Elements of Drama

Plot and Dramatic Action

A drama’s plot often moves the same way as in fiction or creative nonfiction, with rising and
falling actions and climaxes. As mentioned in the first lesson, the plot of dramas is often
divided into acts so that readers and audiences can clearly distinguish key parts of the
drama’s plot. What moves the plot is called dramatic action, a driving force and forward
motion that can create meaning, tension, and audience engagement as the plot moves from
the introduction, exposition, conflict, until the resolution.

Role and Character, Relationships, and Tension

In drama, role and character refer to the identification and portrayal of a character’s
actions, attitudes, intentions, personality, and values to create relationships, situations, and
ideas for furthering the dramatic action of the plot. The role focuses on the person’s type or
stereotype (e.g., the jester, the king, the knight in shining armor), while the character
focuses more on the specifics of one person in the drama.

Relationships are the connections and interactions between characters that add to the
dramatic action. There are many types of relationships in dramas, just like in real life. The
relationship between two or more characters may be fixed, meaning it is unaffected by the
dramatic action, or variable, meaning it can be affected or changed by the dramatic action.

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Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres

These relationships may then be cooperative or friendly, adversarial as enemies, neutral, or

non-existent as in total strangers. The relationships between characters are often defined
by their shared or conflicting interests, common or opposing objectives, cultural values, and
human need.

Tension or dramatic tension is achieved when there is a sense of anticipation or conflict

within characters or among character relationships, which then propel the dramatic action
of the drama. Problems, surprises, and mysteries can also achieve this effect.

Writing Tip
A plot convention often used in dramas is in medias res, literally “in
the midst of things,” which is when the story begins right in the
middle of the action. The advantage of using this in dramas is that
the audience can immediately see and feel the conflict and dramatic
tension without much need for exposition. Take note that this can
be used in other literary genres as well.

Setting, Situation, Mood, and Atmosphere

You can recall from the first lesson that the setting of a drama is often stated right at the
start of the written text. Remember that a drama is usually written to be performed. When
watching a drama, the setting is made obvious by the stage design, the props, the
characters’ costumes, and the like. The situation is a more focused setting of the drama.
These are the whos, whats, wheres, and whens of the story, as well as what is at stake for
the characters. Within the setting and situation are the space and time of the drama. Space
is simply the space of the performance and the dramatic action, but it can also be the
emotional space between characters when there is tension. Time is the fictional time in the
narrative or setting, but it can also refer to other aspects of a drama. It can be the passage
of time in a scene, act, or dramatic event. It can also be the flow of time over the length of
the drama.

Because a work of drama is also meant to be performed, its mood and atmosphere are

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Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres

affected not only by the diction and narrative of the text but also in the performance. The
mood and atmosphere stress the feeling or tone of the physical space, the stage, and the
dramatic action in the plot created by or emerging from the performance. A good and
well-performed drama can make the audience not just able to imagine the mood and
atmosphere in a scene, but to feel it as if they were there with the characters too, inside the
represented setting.

Voice, Movement, and Focus

Voice and movement in drama refer to the performance of the actors onstage. The way
they use their voice to deliver their lines can be used to define roles, flesh out situations and
relationships, provide atmosphere, and even add to the symbolisms and figurative language
in their lines. The same can be achieved with movement, except with facial expressions,
posture, and actions.

Focus is when the attention of the audience is directed towards a specific direction or point
in the performing space. This can be done using character movements, dialogue, stage
direction, stage design, and more. This technique can help direct and intensify the attention
to frame moments of dramatic action or identify the main idea of the drama or scene.

Check Your Progress

When reading a drama, how can you determine the voice and
movement needed for a scene or event?
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Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres

Language and Symbolism

Diction and figurative language in drama are used in the same way as in fiction and
creative nonfiction. The choice of words used can signify the emotion, tone, and inner
feelings of the characters. It can also be used as figurative language and symbolism, as the
words a character speaks, whether in dialogue or soliloquies.

Symbolism in drama extends past the use of language. Symbolism, much like focus, can be
seen in the props and stage sets. It can even be in the characters’ costumes and actions.
Because drama is a genre that is performed, there is a lot of space for symbolism and
allegory.

Read the following excerpt from a written drama below and analyze its use of elements and
techniques.

Dramatis Personae
ALONSO, King of Naples.
SEBASTIAN, his brother.
PROSPERO, the right Duke of Milan.
ANTONIO, his brother, the usurping Duke of Milan.
FERDINAND, son to the King of Naples.
GONZALO, an honest old Counsellor.

ACT I
SCENE I. On a ship at sea: a tempestuous noise of
thunder and lightning heard. boatswain
(noun): a minor
Enter a Ship-Master and a Boatswain. officer on a
merchant ship in
SHIP-MASTER charge of
Boatswain! maintaining the
hull and other
related tasks

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Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres

BOATSWAIN
Here, master: what cheer?

mariners
SHIP-MASTER
(noun): people
Good, speak to the mariners: fall to’t, yarely, or we run
who navigate or
ourselves aground: bestir, bestir. [Exit.]
assist in navigating
a ship
Enter Mariners.

BOATSWAIN bestir (verb):

Heigh, my hearts! cheerly, cheerly, my hearts! yare, yare! to call to action
Take in the topsail. Tend to the master’s whistle. Blow, till
thou burst thy wind, if room enough!

Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Ferdinand, Gonzalo, and

others.

ALONSO
Good boatswain, have care. Where’s the master? Play the
men.

BOATSWAIN
I pray now, keep below.

ANTONIO
Where is the master, boatswain?

BOATSWAIN
Do you not hear him? You mar our labour: keep your cabins:
you do assist the storm.

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Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres

GONZALO
Nay, good, be patient.

BOATSWAIN
When the sea is. Hence! What cares these roarers for the
name of king? To cabin: silence! trouble us not.

GONZALO
Good, yet remember whom thou hast aboard.

BOATSWAIN
None that I more love than myself. You are a Counsellor; if
you can command these elements to silence, and work the
peace of the present, we will not hand a rope more; use your
authority: if you cannot, give thanks you have lived so long,
mischance
and make yourself ready in your cabin for the mischance of
(noun): bad luck
the hour, if it so hap. Cheerly, good hearts! Out of our way, I
say. [Exit.]

GONZALO
I have great comfort from this fellow: methinks he hath no
drowning mark upon him; his complexion is perfect gallows.
Stand fast, good Fate, to his hanging: make the rope of his
destiny our cable, for our own doth little advantage. If he be exeunt
not born to be hanged, our case is miserable. [Exeunt.] (noun): a stage
direction
Re-enter Boatswain. specifying that all
or certain
BOATSWAIN characters leave
Down with the topmast! yare! lower, lower! Bring her to try the stage
with main-course. [A cry within.] A plague upon this howling!
they are louder than the weather or our office.

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Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres

Re-enter Sebastian, Antonio, and Gonzalo.

Yet again! what do you here? Shall we give o’er, and drown?
Have you a mind to sink?

SEBASTIAN
A pox o’ your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, incharitable
dog!

BOATSWAIN
Work you, then.

ANTONIO
Hang, cur! hang, you whoreson, insolent noise-maker. We
are less afraid to be drowned than thou art.

GONZALO
I’ll warrant him for drowning; though the ship were no
stronger than a nutshell, and as leaky as an unstanched
wench.

BOATSWAIN
Lay her a-hold, a-hold! set her two courses off to sea again;
lay her off.

Enter Mariners wet.

MARINERS
All lost! to prayers, to prayers! all lost!

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Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres

BOATSWAIN
What, must our mouths be cold?

GONZALO
The king and prince at prayers! let’s assist them,
For our case is as theirs.

SEBASTIAN
I’m out of patience.

ANTONIO
We are merely cheated of our lives by drunkards:
This wide-chapp’d rascal,—would thou mightst lie drowning
The washing of ten tides!

GONZALO
He’ll be hang’d yet,
Though every drop of water swear against it,
And gape at widest to glut him.

A confused noise within: “Mercy on us!”—“We split, we

split!”—“Farewell my wife and children!”—“Farewell,
brother!”—“We split, we split, we split!”

ANTONIO
Let’s all sink with the king.

SEBASTIAN
Let’s take leave of him. [Exeunt Antonio and Sebastian]

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Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres

GONZALO
furlong
Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of
(noun): a unit of
barren ground, long heath, brown furze, any thing. The wills
distance equal to
above be done! but I would fain die a dry death. [Exeunt.]
220 yards

An excerpt from The Tempest

William Shakespeare

This excerpt depicts the starting scene of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, in which
several important characters are caught in a storm out at sea. The panic of the king’s
companions about the storm disturbs the boatswain trying to manage the ship despite of
the strong waves and heavy rain. In the end, their needless arguing leads to their ship
getting wrecked along the shores of a foreign land, and that begins the plot of The Tempest
in earnest. Look at the dialogue and stage directions in the excerpt. Without even seeing the
performance yet, you can already detect the shared annoyance the boatswain and the king’s
companions have with each other. The entering and exiting of the boatswain and the
mariners also depict how busy they are in maneuvering and saving the ship, showing the
importance of stage directions and movement. How else can the distinct elements of drama
be seen in the excerpt?

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Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres

Comparison with Prose and Poetry

At this point, we’ve familiarized ourselves once more with the three other literary genres
besides creative nonfiction. How do the elements of drama compare to the other literary
genres?

Table 1. Drama, prose (fiction and nonfiction), and poetry

Drama Prose Poetry

The plot is moved by The plot often follows the A specific type of poetry has
dramatic action, which is standard diagram, from a plot, like drama and
influenced by many other exposition to conclusion, prose, but this is not a
elements of drama. but the structure of the commonly used element of
story itself can vary. poetry.

Characters in drama can Characters in prose often Poems with plots can also
have unique and specific help move the plot, and have characters, but often,
traits, but some of them can they can be complete and the only character present
also fill roles. Character round characters or in poetry is the persona. If a
relationships are also vital one-dimensional and static poem is about a person, the
and can provide dramatic characters. In creative person can also be a
tension in scenes. nonfiction, they are usually character.
actual people in the
author’s life.

The setting is usually The setting can be Again, the setting is not
written at the start of the described through narration often used in poetry unless
drama text or the start of or dialogue and can be it has a plot. If it were
every act if it changes. supported by other describing a place or time, it
However, in performances, elements like tone and could act as the setting.
the setting can also be atmosphere.
described by the stage set,
props, costumes, and other
elements.

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Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres

Voice and movement in Voice in prose refers to the Voice in poetry is closer to
dramas refer to the way the author or narrator’s voice prose than to drama, as it
performers act, but these and tone, which is indicative also describes the tone of
influence and are of how the author or the persona, which shows
influenced by elements like narrator feels about the the attitude he or she has
diction, posture, tension, topic or main idea of the towards the main topic of
and the like. work. the poem.

Perhaps what unites all four literary genres is how they treat language, symbolism, and
allegory. In all of the genres, these are used to give words and phrases additional
meanings beyond the literal, allowing different parts and elements of the text to come
together to form the main idea. Perhaps what makes drama different from the other
genres is that symbolism can also appear in the performances, whether through the
characters’ actions and costumes or in the physical set and props on stage.

Wrap-Up
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● The plot of a drama is moved by dramatic action, which is influenced by many
other elements.
● Characters can have unique characteristics or fulfill a role, and their relationships
with other characters are important.
● The setting of a drama is often stated ahead of the story, but it can also be
described by the characters or the stage in the performance.
● Voice and movement refer to how the actors in a drama talk and act in a way that
can move the dramatic action or add to the tension of scenes and acts.
● Language and symbolism are important in drama too, and they can be presented in
both the written text and the performance.
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Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres

Try This!
A. Fill in the Blanks. Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.

1. The __________________ is what moves the plot in dramas.

2. A stereotypical character in a drama is fulfilling a __________________.

3. __________________ is when the audience’s attention is directed towards a specific

direction or spot.

4. When there is a conflict between two characters, it creates __________________.

5. A literary element that unites all four genres is __________________.

B. True or False. Write true if the statement is correct. Otherwise, write false.

________________ 1. Voice in dramas refers to the persona or the narrator.

________________ 2. Dramas are written to be performed.

________________ 3. Drama gives characters a lot of spoken dialogue.

________________ 4. The setting in dramas is often left out of the written work.

________________ 5. Stage sets and props can describe the drama’s setting.

Practice Your Writing Skills

To practice your ability to differentiate the different elements of drama, choose one of the
prompts below that highlights a particular element of drama and demonstrate it by writing
a short excerpt.

1. Write a short exchange between two characters that clearly shows what kind of

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Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres

relationship they have and how the exchange gives the drama tension.
2. Write a short excerpt that uses movement and focus to highlight a prominent symbol
in the drama. Make good use of stage directions.
3. Write a short first scene of a drama that effectively uses in medias res, meaning that
the audience is already given a hint of the conflict and the tension in the drama with
minimal exposition.
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Suggested Rubric for Grading

The rubric below is a suggested one. Your teacher may modify it based on your needs.
Consult your teacher for the final rubric.

Performance Levels

1 2 3 Suggested
Criteria Score
Beginning Proficient Advanced Weight
Proficiency Proficiency

Usage of The elements The elements The elements

indicated in the indicated in the indicated in the
Elements ×3
prompt are vaguely prompt are correctly prompt are clearly
or incorrectly used. used. and correctly used.

Completion of The requirements One or two All of the

asked for in the requirements asked requirements asked
Content ×2
prompt are barely for in the prompt are for in the prompt are
present. missing. followed.

Grammar and There are five or There are two to four There is one or no
more mistakes in mistakes in grammar mistake in grammar
Language ×1
grammar and and spelling. and spelling.
spelling.

Total Possible Score 18

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Teacher’s Feedback
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Bibliography
Elements of Drama. Lumen. Accessed March 5, 2021.
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-fscj-literatureforhumanities/chapter/element
s-of-drama/.

“Elements of Drama.” Windmill Theatre Co. Windmill Theatre Co., September 7, 2018.
https://windmill.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Elements-of-Drama.pdf.

Elements: Poetry. Accessed March 5, 2021.

https://org.coloradomesa.edu/~blaga/Theory/poetry_elements.html.

K-10 Outline. “Elements of Drama.” Kindergarten to Year 10 website. K-10 Outline,

September 7, 2020.
https://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/home/teaching/curriculum-browser/the-arts/visua
l-arts2/arts-overview/glossary/elements-of-drama.

Lesson 3: Elements of Fiction. Lumen. Accessed March 5, 2021.

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-distanceminnesota-creativewriting/chapter/l
esson-3-elements-of-a-fiction/.

2.2: Elements of Creative Nonfiction. Humanities LibreTexts. Libretexts, July 1, 2020.

https://human.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Literature_and_Literacy/Writing_and_Critic
al_Thinking_Through_Literature_(Ringo_and_Kashyap)/02%3A_About_Creative_Nonfic
tion/2.02%3A_Elements_of_Creative_Nonfiction.

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