ELEMENTS OF

DRAMA
 DRAMA
• Drama comes from the Greek Word,
“Dran” which means “To do” or “To
Act”.
• It has one characteristic peculiar to itself
—it is written primarily to be performed,
not to be read.
T H E E L E M E N T S O F D R A M A A R E C AT E G O R I Z E D I N T O T H R E E M A J O R PA RT S :

• A. Literary Elements
• B. Technical Elements
• C. Performance Elements
A. LITERARY ELEMENTS

• PLOT
• SETTING
• CHARACTERS
• DIALOGUE- this refers to the words written by the
playwright and spoken by the characters in the play.
The dialogue helps move the action of the play along .
FORMS OF DIALOGUE:

• Soliloquy- a character that is typically alone

on stage, delivers a long speech. Emotions and
innermost thoughts of the character are
revealed in a soliloquy.
• Aside- This is spoken by a character to
another character or to the audience but is not
heard by the other characters on stage. Asides
reveal what a character is thinking or feeling.
B. TECHNICAL ELEMENTS

• 1) Scenery (set) – The theatrical

equipment, such as curtains, flats,
backdrops, or platforms, used in a
dramatic production to communicate
environment.
• 2) Costumes – Clothing and
accessories are worn by actors to
portray character and period.
• 3) Properties – Any article, except
costume or scenery, used as part of a
dramatic production; any moveable
object that appears on stage during a
performance, from a telephone to a
train.
• 4) Lights – means that every placement,
intensity, and color of lights have to be set
as needed to help communicate
environment, mood, or feeling.
• 5) Sound- The effects an audience hears
during performance to communicate
character, context, or environment.
• 6) Makeup- It includes costumes, wigs,
and body paint used to transform an actor
into a character.
C. PERFORMANCE ELEMENTS

• 1) Acting- The use of face, body, and

voice to portray character
• 2) Character Motivation- The reason
or reasons for a character’s behavior;
an incentive or inducement for further
action for a character in drama.
• 3) Character Analysis- In responding to
dramatic art, the process of examining
how the elements of drama-literary,
technical, and performance- are used.
• 4) Empathy- The capacity to relate to
the feelings of another.
 CHARACTERIZATION

• the process through which an author develops and

presents the personalities of the characters in a story.
• It involves the creation of complex and believable
characters through various means, such as their
actions, thoughts, dialogue, appearance, and
interactions with other characters and the environment.
 2 TYPES OF CHARACTERIZATION

1. Direct characterization: This occurs when the

author explicitly describes a character's traits,
motivations, or personality directly to the reader.
For example, the author may directly state that a
character is brave, intelligent, or deceitful.
 2 TYPES OF CHARACTERIZATION

2. Indirect characterization: This involves revealing a

character's traits through their actions, thoughts, dialogue,
appearance, and interactions with others. Readers infer
characteristics about the character based on these indirect
cues.
For instance, if a character consistently helps others in
need, readers may infer that they are compassionate and
kind.
 IDENTIFYING FICTIONAL ELEMENTS IN A
TEXT
• Read the text closely, paying attention to the characters, plot
developments, settings, and themes.
• Analyze the narrative structure, identifying key plot points, conflicts, and
resolutions.
• Consider the author's writing style, tone, and use of literary devices such
as symbolism, foreshadowing, and irony.
• Reflect on the emotional impact of the story and its resonance with
universal human experiences.
• Discuss the text with others, exploring different interpretations and
perspectives.