(FTU) Lesson Topic 2: Dramatic Elements

Lesson Topic 2: Dramatic Elements

The Elements of Drama

The elements of drama are very similar to the elements appearing in short stories, novels, and poetry. Often, poems appear in dramatic literature. If you read Shakespeare, you will find sonnets throughout his plays.

Every play has a plot, or a sequence of events. Just like in short stories and novels, a play follows the plot diagram.

 

Remember that the exposition is the background of a play usually presented at the beginning in order to understand the story properly. The exposition is also known as the introduction. The rising action is the events in a conflict that lead to a climax. Next, the climax occurs. The climax is the point where forces in conflict meet; the conflict is also known as the turning point in the story. From the turning point, the falling action begins. In the falling action, the conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist unravels, with the protagonist winning or losing against the antagonist; events that occur after the climax have been reached. Finally, the dénouement appears. The dénouement is also called the resolution and occurs when the falling action unwinds to a conclusion—all ends are tied.

Practice your understanding of the plot pyramid below.

There are other terms commonly appearing in various works of dramatic literature. A monologue is a (usually long) dramatic speech by a single actor. Monologues tend to gain audience attention due to the drama used by the actor or actress. Then, a soliloquy occurs when a character speaks alone on stage to allow his or her thoughts and ideas to be conveyed to the audience. The actors and actresses are not alone on stage during a monologue, but the purpose of a soliloquy is for the actors and actresses to convey deep emotions. Occasionally, a character might use an aside. An aside is a line spoken by an actor to the audience but not intended for others on the stage. An aside might provide a bit of comedy, or humor, in the play.

Finally, plays are similar to other literary genres in that they all have a theme or a central idea. Often, dramatic literature incorporates foreshadowing, which is the use of hints or clues to suggest what will happen next. Foreshadowing keeps the audience on the edges of their seats. There are also round and flat characters in dramatic literature. Remember that round characters show many different traits and depth, but flat characters are one-dimensional and only show a single personality trait. Two round characters will most likely appear as the protagonist and antagonist. The protagonist is the central character in the story, and the antagonist often goes against the protagonist.