CREATIVE WRITING 4th Quarter

Reading and Writing Drama

you will be able to:

1. identify the elements, techniques and literary devices in drama,

2. understand intertextuality as a technique of drama,
3. conceptualize a character/setting/plot for a one-act play,
4. explore different staging modalities vis-à-vis envisioning the script
5. write at least one scene for one-act play applying the various
elements, techniques and literary devices.
At the end of this lesson, the learners are expected to:

1. Define drama as a genre of fiction,

2. Understand the elements, techniques
and literary devices in drama, and
3. Compose a short draft of any type of
drama
LESSON
ELEMENTS, TECHNIQUES AND LITERARY DEVICES IN DRAMA
1

What is Drama?
As mentioned in the previous module, literature is quite complex and consists of a
wide array of genres, including poetry and fiction which were mentioned in the previous
discussions. Drama, on the other hand, is another literary genre with various characteristics
which are distinct from the other types of literary works. In literature, drama is defined as:

• a mode of fictional representation through dialogue and performance

• a type of play which is written for theater, television, radio and film
• a composition in the forms of either verse or prose for the purpose of portraying life or character or
telling a story which often involves conflicts and emotions through action and dialogue
• comes from the Greek words δρᾶμα (an act, a play) and δράω (to act, to take action)
• its writer is known as dramatist or playwright
LESSON
ELEMENTS, TECHNIQUES AND LITERARY DEVICES IN DRAMA
1

Types of Drama
Drama is classified into different categories according to mood, tone, and
actions shown in the plot. Below are some of the most famous types of drama
written nowadays.
1. Comedy This is known to be a broad genre of film, television, and literature.
Nonetheless, its ultimate goal is but simple – to make the audience laugh. In
order to achieve such goal, a playwright often uses quaint circumstances,
unusual characters, and witty remarks. What makes this category different from
the other types is that its writer uses lighter tone. Moreover, it is sometimes
known to be sarcastic in nature as it has the tendency to make fun out of
serious topics.
 ELEMENTS, TECHNIQUES AND LITERARY DEVICES IN DRAMA
LESSON
1 The following are the sub-genres of comedy:
romantic comedy – It focuses on lighthearted, humorous plot lines which are
often centered on romantic ideas like how true love is able to overcome many
obstacles.
sentimental comedy - It began in the 18th century as a reaction to the immoral
tone of English Restoration play. This sub-genre of comedy focuses on the
middle-class protagonists who are able to successfully overcome a couple of
moral trials.
comedy of manners - It is also referred to as the anti-sentimental comedy which
writes about the manners and feelings of modern society. It also questions
societal standards.
tragic comedy - It portrays characters who take on tragedy with humor in order
to bring out happy endings out of serious situations.
The following are the common examples of comedy:
• The Simpsons
• America’s Funniest Home Videos
LESSON ELEMENTS, TECHNIQUES AND LITERARY DEVICES IN
1
DRAMA
2. Tragedy - As a type of drama, tragedy is basically rooted on its literal meaning which connotes
something that is unpleasant and unwelcome. Generally, it has darker themes and portrays subjects
which include death, disaster, and all sorts of human suffering in a manner that is dignified and
thought-provoking. This type of drama involves two important elements: (1) its intense seriousness in
dealing with matters in which survival is at stake and (2) its involvement of the whole community in
matters of ultimate and common concern. A tragic flaw, a characteristic which often leads to a
downfall, is usually present among the story’s protagonists.

Tragedies come in different types which include:

Greek Tragedy - Typically, it involves a protagonist of high rank who commits a mistake in judgment
(flawed) and accepts his fall from grace. Typically, it includes the elements of Gods, mythology,
conflict, suffering and catharsis. Among the great Greek tragedians were Sophocles, Euripides and
Aeschylus.
Roman Tragedy - These are mostly adaptations of Greek tragedies. The Roman philosopher Seneca
wrote nine plays which still exist at present and adopted by Elizabethan and Jacobean playwrights
during the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
LESSON ELEMENTS, TECHNIQUES AND LITERARY DEVICES IN
1
DRAMA
3. Farce - This type of drama features exaggerated or absurd forms of comedy. It is a nonsensical genre of
drama in which the characters intentionally overact and get themselves into a slapstick or physical humor.
Webster’s Dictionary refers to it as “a light dramatic composition marked by broadly satirical comedy and
improbable plot”. Recently, it is known as something serious that has turned comical.

4. Melodrama - This is an exaggerated type of drama which shows classic one-dimensional characters like
heroes, heroines, and villains who deal with sensational, romantic, and threatening situations. Examples of
melodrama are the play The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams and Margaret Mitchell’s novel, Gone
With the Wind.

5. Opera - This type combines theater, dialogue, music and dance to tell grand stories of tragedy or comedy;
hence, it is known as a versatile genre of drama. This genre requires their performers to be both actors and
singers since they will be expressing their emotions and intentions through song instead of a dialogue.

6. Docudrama - This new genre involves dramatic portrayals of historic events or non-fictional happenings. It
is more often presented in movies such as Apollo 13 and 12 Years a Slave.
LESSON ELEMENTS, TECHNIQUES AND LITERARY
1 DEVICES IN DRAMA

The Structure of Drama

1. Plot
We refer to plot as the dramatic structure of a play. Nonetheless, it should not
be forgotten that the narrative structure is not the only consideration to think
of since majority of these plays are created to be played either in a theater, a
movie or a television.
There are three major divisions or acts in a physical format of a play. A three-
act play is composed of three acts which show a fuller and longer exposition of
the theme and conflict of the story. On the other hand, a one-act play involves
one unit of time, place and action only.
LESSON ELEMENTS, TECHNIQUES AND LITERARY
1 DEVICES IN DRAMA

Typically, plays are written in many different forms, but the typical
structure often consists of the following: Dramatic Elements
1.Exposition and This part introduces the characters and establishes the setting of
Introduction the story. The introduction can either present the conflict right at
the very beginning or in the middle of the action. Regardless of
the structure, this part shows the situations that involved the
characters to the conflict and sets the tone of the play.

2. Conflict This is where the challenges that the protagonist is about to face
are presented. This conflict may arise from various forces, including
the society, nature, environment, God, or even from the main
character himself/herself.
LESSON ELEMENTS, TECHNIQUES AND LITERARY
1 DEVICES IN DRAMA

3. Rising Action or From the emergence of a conflict, the play now rises toward a dramatic
Complication tension which often turns into a confrontation. As this dramatic tension
intensifies, it provides emotional tension between characters, giving the
audience more details concerning them which were not known in the
introduction and conflict. This part also makes the conflict more complicated.

4. Turning Point, Climax This part is where the audience finds out if the protagonist either wins or loses
or Crisis in the battle that he or she is struggling with. This is known as the highest point
in a story.
5. Falling Action At this point, the audience somehow gets a sense of the conclusion, but may
still have some unsettled questions at work within the plot.
6. Denouement or This marks the ending of the play where we can see if the protagonist won
Resolution against the antagonist. It also shows whether or not the order is brought back
and the conflict has been resolved.
LESSON ELEMENTS, TECHNIQUES AND LITERARY
1 DEVICES IN DRAMA

The Structure of Drama

2. Setting
An effective playwright does not only consider the plot when writing
drama. Equally important to that matter is to also think of the setting in
a play. Basically, setting is the term used to describe the place or the
locale where the story of the play is located. Moreover, it also includes
the date, time and the action involved in the play.
LESSON ELEMENTS, TECHNIQUES AND LITERARY
1 DEVICES IN DRAMA

In general, setting has two main categories:

Realistic plays - Refer to those whose conventions are under the realistic
plane and are taken from real people, objects and situations. In this
category, the setting is created with the aim to reproduce the external
presence of life.
Non-realistic plays - It is the exact opposite of realistic plays in which it is
drawn out from stylized and unconventional events. It involves characters
who are not real people, but are allegorical or symbolical. The setting in this
category can be a dream-like forest, a barren and deserted mountain, the
underworld or any fictional spot.
LESSON ELEMENTS, TECHNIQUES AND LITERARY
1 DEVICES IN DRAMA

The Structure of Drama

3. Character
As discussed in the lesson on fiction, character refers to a person or any
entity with human characteristics who acts, speaks, narrates or is
referred to in a literary work. A character can be major (or principal) or
minor (supporting). The general classifications of characters in drama are
as follows:
Hero or heroine – also known as the protagonist whose conflict is also
the main conflict of the play
LESSON ELEMENTS, TECHNIQUES AND LITERARY
1 DEVICES IN DRAMA

Villain or villainess – the character with evil qualities and often

contradicts with the hero(ine)
Superhero or superheroine – the character with supernatural powers
Antihero or antiheroine – a character who is more ordinary compared
to traditional hero(ine)
LESSON ELEMENTS, TECHNIQUES AND LITERARY
1 DEVICES IN DRAMA

The Structure of Drama

4. Dialogue Among the components in a play, this is the most important. This is basically
the reason why the action of the play moves. Since the nature of drama is performative, it is the
dialogue, which takes place between the characters, that often reveal the tone and the characters
in the play.

When writing the dialogues, consider the following pointers:

• Characters should not give flawless talks.
• Character should refrain from using clichés.
• Characters should not often use character names.
• Characters should not deliver lengthy speeches.
• Characters do not directly mention the theme of the play.
5.
6.
5 Tips for Writing Dramatic Monologues
• Start with a compelling opening line. Monologues lack action and
dialogue, which can leave the audience unengaged. ...
• Present a strong point of view. ...
• Develop a storyline. ...
• Know your parameters. ...
• Wrap up with parting words.