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    Different Types of Drama

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    Yususf
    There are many types of drama that entertain audiences today. The two main categories are comedy, which aims to make audiences laugh and typically has happy endings, and tragedy, which involves serious subject matter and often ends unhappily. Within these categories lie other forms such as farce, which uses exaggerated situations and characters for comedy, melodrama which features simplified characters and a formulaic rescue plot, and musicals, which tell stories through music and dance. It is important for drama students to understand these different types, though modern plays often combine elements of multiple genres.

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    Different Types of Drama

    Uploaded by

    Yususf
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    There are many types of drama that entertain audiences today. The two main categories are comedy, which aims to make audiences laugh and typically has happy endings, and tragedy, which involves serious subject matter and often ends unhappily. Within these categories lie other forms such as farce, which uses exaggerated situations and characters for comedy, melodrama which features simplified characters and a formulaic rescue plot, and musicals, which tell stories through music and dance. It is important for drama students to understand these different types, though modern plays often combine elements of multiple genres.

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    Kinds of Drama

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    There are many types of drama that entertain audiences today. The two main categories are comedy, which aims to make audiences laugh and typically has happy endings, and tragedy, which involves serious subject matter and often ends unhappily. Within these categories lie other forms such as farce, which uses exaggerated situations and characters for comedy, melodrama which features simplified characters and a formulaic rescue plot, and musicals, which tell stories through music and dance. It is important for drama students to understand these different types, though modern plays often combine elements of multiple genres.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    404 views1 page

    Different Types of Drama

    Uploaded by

    Yususf
    There are many types of drama that entertain audiences today. The two main categories are comedy, which aims to make audiences laugh and typically has happy endings, and tragedy, which involves serious subject matter and often ends unhappily. Within these categories lie other forms such as farce, which uses exaggerated situations and characters for comedy, melodrama which features simplified characters and a formulaic rescue plot, and musicals, which tell stories through music and dance. It is important for drama students to understand these different types, though modern plays often combine elements of multiple genres.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
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    Different Types of Drama

    By: Jenney Cheever


    You'll discover many types of drama when studying drama and theater. The symbol of drama, the
    laughing and weeping masks, represent the two main types of drama, comedy and tragedy. Within those
    categories lie the many forms of drama that entertain people today.
    Comedy
    When we talk about comedy, we usually refer to plays that are light in tone, and that typically have happy
    endings. The intent of a comedic play is to make the audience laugh. In modern theater, there are many
    different styles of comedy, ranging from realistic stories, where the humor is derived from real-life
    situations, to outrageous slapstick humor.
    Tragedy
    Tragedy is one of the oldest forms of drama; however, its meaning has changed since the earliest days of
    staged plays. In ancient times, a tragedy was often an historical dramas featuring the downfall of a great
    man. In modern theater, the definition is a bit looser. Tragedy usually involves serious subject matter and
    the death of one or more main characters. These plays rarely have a happy ending.
    Farce
    Farce is a sub-category of comedy, characterized by greatly exaggerated characters and situations.
    Characters tend to be one-dimensional and often follow stereotypical behavior. Farces typically involve
    mistaken identities, lots of physical comedy and outrageous plot twists.
    Melodrama
    Melodrama is another type of exaggerated drama. As in farce, the characters tend to be simplified and
    one-dimensional. The formulaic storyline of the classic melodrama typically involves a villain a heroine,
    and a hero who must rescue the heroine from the villain.
    Musical
    In musical theater, the story is told not only through dialogue and acting but through music and dance.
    Musicals are often comedic, although many do involve serious subject matter. Most involve a large cast
    and lavish sets and costumes.
    As a student of drama it is important to be able recognize these different types of drama. Be aware that in
    modern theater, the lines between these types of drama are often quite blurred, with elements of comedy,
    drama and tragedy residing in the same play.

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