ELEMENTS, TECHNIQUES, and

LITERARY DEVICES OF
DRAMA
DRAMA
 Drama comes from the Greek
Word, “DRAN” which means “to do”
or “to act”. Doing/Acting makes
drama. It is the presentation of actions
on a stage through actors/actress before
an audience. Like a short story or
novel, it has settings, characters, plot,
and even symbolism.
TWO TYPES OF DRAMA
1. TRAGEDY- a form of drama in which events
lead to the downfall of the main
character, often a person of great
significance, like a king or hero.

2. COMEDY- a form of drama that has a happy

ending. Humor comes from the
dialogue and situations.
ELEMENTS OF DRAMA
LITERARYELEMENTS
TECHNICAL ELEMENTS
 LITERARY ELEMENTS
1. PLOT-refers to the action; the basic storyline of the play.

SIX STAGES IN A PLOT STRUCTURE

Initial Incident Preliminary Event Rising Action

Denouement Falling Action Climax

2. THEME- refers to the message that is
intended to be expressed through
the story.

3. CHARACTERS and ACTORS- the people

(sometimes animals or ideas)
portrayed by the actors.

CHARACTERIZATION is the way the

playwright/author presents a character.
TYPES OF CHARACTER
1. Protagonist- the main character of the story.
2. Antagonist- the opposite of a Protagonist
3. Round Character- complex and undergo
development
4. Flat Character- relatively uncomplicated
and do not change
throughout the whole story.
4. DIALOGUE- refers to words written by the
playwright and spoken by the
characters in the play.

FORMS OF DIALOGUE
a. Monologue- when one character delivers a
speech to convey his/her thoughts, although other
characters may remain on stage in scene.
b. Soliloquy- a speech made by one character but
delivered when he/she is alone on stage.
5. MUSIC/RHYTHM-refers to the rhythm of the actors’
voice as they speak.

6. SPECTACLE- refers to the visual elements of a play.

ELEMENTS OF DRAMA IN THE MODERN

THEATER

Characters Plot Theme

Dialogue Convention Genre Audience

 TECHNICAL ELEMENTS
1. SCENE- refers to the theatrical equipment.
2. COSTUMES-refers to clothing and accessories used
by the actors to portray characters.
3. PROPERTIES- any movable object that appears on
stage.
4. SOUND- refers to the effects an audience hears
during performance
5. LIGHTS
6. MAKEUP- includes costumes, wigs, and body paints
used to transform characters.
OTHER ELEMENTS
1. PLAYWRIGHT- the author of a play.
2. SCRIPT- the written pages of a play. Scripts are
divided into Acts and Scenes.
3. SETTING- the place, together with other conditions,
such as time and environment, involved which the events
occur.
4. CONFLICT- the internal or external struggle that
creates dramatic tension.
TECHNIQUES IN DRAMA
1. VOCAL DYNAMICS- actors need to expand
their vocal toolbox and learn about the ways
that range, pitch, and pronunciation which
affect performance.

2. BODY LANGUAGE AND MANNERISMS- actors

bring their characters to life by moving,
reacting, and even standing in nuanced ways
that are natural for their chracter.
3. USE AND AWARENESS OF SPACE- actors need
to be aware not just of your “marks” on stage,
but also of the actors who must interact with or
move past you.

4. IMPROVISATIONAL TECHNIQUES-refers to the

on-the-spot creativity of the actors.
 COMMON LITERARY DEVICES
USED IN DRAMA
 FIGURES OF SPEECH- words that go its
literal meaning.

1. METAPHOR- refers to a meaning or identity

ascribed to one subject by way of
another.

2. SIMILE- refers to the practice of drawing

parallels
3. IMAGERY- the author’s attempt to create a
mental picture in the mind of the
reader. It appeals to the senses.

4. SYMBOLISM- when an object is meant to be

representative of something or an
idea greater than the object itself or it
is the frequent use of words, places,
characters, or objects that mean
something beyond what they are on a
literal level.
5. DRAMATIC IRONY- involves the reader (or
audience) knowing something about what’s
happening in the plot, about which the
characters have no knowledge.

6. FORESHADOWING-refers to the use of indicative

words/phrases and hints that set the stage for
a story to unfold and give the reader a hint of
something that is going to happen without
revealing the story or spoiling the suspense.
 THANK
YOU FOR
LISTENING