ELEMENTS IN

DRAMA
“I regard theatre as the
greatest of all artforms,
the most immediate way
in which a human being
can share with another
the sense of what it is to
be a human being.”
-Oscar Wilde

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Do you remember feeling amazed by the lights and
the sounds as a stage production starts?
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Do you remember feeling
sad and happy for the
protagonist during his or
her trials, hardships,
and/or successes?

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All of these
begin with the
playwright. All
of these begin
with drama.

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ODD ONE OUT

In each of the following box, identify

which does not belong to the group. Then,
explain why it does not belong with the
others.

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ODD ONE OUT

[1]

Lysander

Romeo

Shylock

Scotland
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ODD ONE OUT
[2]

[arranges the sand under his head]

It must be because you are afraid of being

found out.

No ma'am, he is a Doctor of Philosophy!

Well, here it is.

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ODD ONE OUT

[3]

Climax

Exposition

Protagonist

Rising Action
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ODD ONE OUT

[4]

1972

Cottage in West Issacshire

The present

What goes around, comes around.

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ODD ONE OUT

[5]

[Vladimir ENTERS]

[Vladimir’s house in the countryside]

[Vladimir shakes his head]

[Vladimir sits on the sofa]

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1. DID YOU FIND IT EASY TO CHOOSE WHICH
DOES NOT BELONG TO THE GROUP? WHY
OR WHY NOT?

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2. WHAT CLUES DID YOU USE TO TRY AND
FIGURE OUT WHICH DOES NOT BELONG?

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3. DO YOU THINK IT IS POSSIBLE TO FIGURE
OUT WHICH ONE DOES NOT BELONG EVEN
WITHOUT STOCK KNOWLEDGE OF DRAMA?
WHY OR WHY NOT?

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How does drama serve as a guide for a stage
production that is enjoyed and analyzed by an
audience?

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WHAT IS DRAMA?

● written in script format

● has a story revolving around characters
● observes brevity

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 WHAT IS DRAMA?

Drama vs. Other Genres

Does it have Does it
Literary
Format a plot and observe
Genre
characters? brevity?
Fiction Narrative Yes No
Poetry Verse No Yes
Drama Script Yes Yes

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 WHAT IS DRAMA?

THE MANAGER (throwing a letter

down on the table). I can't see (to
Property Man). Let's have a little light,
please!
PROPERTY MAN. Yes sir, yes, at once
(a light comes down on to the stage).

An excerpt from Six Characters in Search of an Author

Luigi Pirandello, translated by Edward Storer
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 ELEMENTS IN DRAMA

Plot
● Arrangement of events in drama
● Plot is not story.
○ Story refers to what happens in the drama.
○ Plot refers to the order and importance of events.
● Five parts: exposition, rising action, climax, falling
action, and denouement.

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 ELEMENTS IN DRAMA

Climax
Plot

Fa
n
tio

llin
Ac

g
Ac
g
sin

t io
Ri

n
Exposition Denouement

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When writing drama, avoid including too much
narration. Unravel the story through the
dialogues and actions in it.

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 ELEMENTS IN DRAMA

Characters

● People whose actions, ideas, and dispositions are

meant to be portrayed.
● Characteristics are revealed through speech and
actions.
● They are listed at the start of the script.

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ELEMENTS IN DRAMA

GEORGE HENDERSON (County Attorney)

HENRY PETERS (Sheriff)

LEWIS HALE, A neighboring farmer

MRS PETERS

MRS HALE

An excerpt from Trifles

Susan Glaspell
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When listing characters, include even the
minor characters. Even characters who appear
only once and/or quickly in the drama should
be included in the list of characters.

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 ELEMENTS IN DRAMA

Setting
Revealed before the actions are performed in the drama.
Composed of:
● when (time)
● where (place)

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 WHAT IS DRAMA?

SCENE: The kitchen is the now

abandoned farmhouse of JOHN
WRIGHT, a gloomy kitchen, and left
without having been put in order—
unwashed pans under the sink, a
loaf of bread outside the bread-
box, a dish-towel on the table—
other signs of incompleted work.
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 WHAT IS DRAMA?

At the rear the outer door opens and

the SHERIFF comes in followed by the
COUNTY ATTORNEY and HALE. The
SHERIFF and HALE are men in middle
life, the COUNTY ATTORNEY is a young
man; all are much bundled up and go
at once to the stove. They are
followed by the two women—the
SHERIFF's wife first; she is a slight wiry
woman, a thin nervous face.
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 WHAT IS DRAMA?

MRS HALE is larger and would

ordinarily be called more
comfortable looking, but she is
disturbed now and looks fearfully
about as she enters. The women
have come in slowly, and stand close
together near the door.

An excerpt from Trifles

Susan Glaspell
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 ELEMENTS IN DRAMA

● Dialogue is the conversation between and among the

characters.

● Monologue are the lines spoken by a character in

front of the audience while alone on stage.

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ELEMENTS IN DRAMA

MRS HALE: (abruptly moving toward

her) Mrs Peters?

MRS PETERS: Yes, Mrs Hale?

MRS HALE: Do you think she did it?

MRS PETERS: (in a frightened voice)

Oh, I don't know.

An excerpt from Trifles

Susan Glaspell
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When writing realistic drama, ensure that the
dialogue reflects how real people communicate
with one another.

When writing unrealistic drama, ensure that the

characters' way of interacting reflects their
personality and role in the text.

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 ELEMENTS IN DRAMA

Stage Directions are instructions about the actions,

emotions, tones of voice, facial expressions, noverbal
actions, set designs, and costumes.

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 WHAT IS DRAMA?

(Footsteps have been heard

coming down the stairs. The
SHERIFF enters followed by
HALE and the COUNTY
ATTORNEY.)
SHERIFF: They wonder if she was
going to quilt it or just knot it! (The
men laugh, the women look abashed.)
An excerpt from Trifles
Susan Glaspell
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 ELEMENTS IN DRAMA

Theme is a universal idea the selection evokes.

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 ELEMENTS IN DRAMA

Themes in Trifles by Susan Glaspell

● What you may consider as trifles or trivial things are
part of something important.
● Women are usually deemed incapable of dealing
with anything other than domestic and “trifling”
things, and as such are not deemed of equal ability
to men.

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Recall a drama that you have recently read or a
stage production you have watched. Enumerate
the elements of drama evident in it.

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FILL IN THE BLANKS. FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE
ELEMENT IN DRAMA DESCRIBED BY THE FOLLOWING.
SOME LETTERS ARE PROVIDED TO SERVE AS CLUES.

1. Instructions set by the playwright that

includes actions, facial expressions, tones
of voice, emotions, and sometimes even
the costumes of characters

__ __ A __ __ D __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

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FILL IN THE BLANKS. FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE
ELEMENT IN DRAMA DESCRIBED BY THE FOLLOWING.
SOME LETTERS ARE PROVIDED TO SERVE AS CLUES.

2. Sequence and significance of events in

drama

P __ O __

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FILL IN THE BLANKS. FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE
ELEMENT IN DRAMA DESCRIBED BY THE FOLLOWING.
SOME LETTERS ARE PROVIDED TO SERVE AS CLUES.

3. Universal idea of the drama

T H __ __ __

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FILL IN THE BLANKS. FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE
ELEMENT IN DRAMA DESCRIBED BY THE FOLLOWING.
SOME LETTERS ARE PROVIDED TO SERVE AS CLUES.

4. Where and when of the drama

S __ __ __ I __ __

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FILL IN THE BLANKS. FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE
ELEMENT IN DRAMA DESCRIBED BY THE FOLLOWING.
SOME LETTERS ARE PROVIDED TO SERVE AS CLUES.

5. The conversations or interactions between

and among the characters

D __ __ __ __ __ __ E

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● Drama is a literary genre written in script
format, has a story and characters, and uses
narration sparingly. The lines and actions of the
characters flesh out the story.
● The elements in drama include:
○ plot
○ characters
○ setting
○ dialogue
○ stage directions
○ theme 42
Choose one of the given topics below. Then,
write a one-page scene for a drama following
the elements of drama discussed in the lesson.

a. The struggles of a boy who was shunned by

his parents.

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b. A sci-fi love story between a human from
Earth and an alien from a distant galaxy.
c. A story set during the Spanish period in the
Philippines that focuses on revolution.

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