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Elements of Drama

The document defines the key elements of drama according to Aristotle as plot, character, thought, diction, spectacle, and song. It then provides further details on specific elements like theme, plot, characters, dialogue, setting, performance, music, and visual elements. Stagecraft, symbols, and contrasts are also mentioned as important elements that enhance drama.

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Cherry Mae J. Gapatan
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295 views15 pages

Elements of Drama

The document defines the key elements of drama according to Aristotle as plot, character, thought, diction, spectacle, and song. It then provides further details on specific elements like theme, plot, characters, dialogue, setting, performance, music, and visual elements. Stagecraft, symbols, and contrasts are also mentioned as important elements that enhance drama.

Uploaded by

Cherry Mae J. Gapatan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ELEMENTS OF DRAMA AND

TECHNICAL VOCABULARY
FOR DRAMA
“When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes;
I all alone between my outcast state.”
William Shakespeare
➔ THE ELEMENTS OF
DRAMA
The six Aristotelian elements of drama
are plot, character, thought, diction,
spectacle, and song. Out of these, the first
two are the most important ones
according to Aristotle.
Drama can be defined as a dramatic work that actors
present on stage.
A story is dramatized, which means the characters and
events in the story are brought to life through a stage
performance by actors who play roles of the characters in the
story and act through its events, taking the story forward.
Theme
The theme of a play refers to its central idea. It can
either be clearly stated through dialog or action, or
can be inferred after watching the entire
performance. The theme is the philosophy that
forms the base of the story or a moral lesson that
the characters learn.
Plot
The order of events occurring in a play make its
plot. Essentially, the plot is the story that the play
narrates. The entertainment value of a play depends
largely on the sequence of events in the story. The
connection between the events and the characters
in them form an integral part of the plot.
Characters
➔ Each character in a play has a personality of its own and a set
of principles and beliefs. Actors in the play have the
responsibility of bringing the characters to life. The main
character in the play who the audience identifies with, is the
protagonist. He/she represents the theme of the play. The
character that the protagonist conflicts with, is the antagonist
or villain.
Dialogue
➔ The story of a play is taken forward by means of dialogs. The
story is narrated to the audiences through the interaction between
the play's characters, which is in the form of dialogs. The contents
of the dialogs and the quality of their delivery have a major role to
play in the impact that the play has on the audiences. It is through
the dialogs between characters that the story can be understood.
They are important in revealing the personalities of the characters.
Setting
The time and place where a story is set is one of its important
parts. The era or time in which the incidents in the play take
place, influence the characters in their appearance and
personalities. The time setting may affect the central theme of
the play, the issues raised (if any), the conflict, and the
interactions between the characters. The historical and social
context of the play is also defined by the time and place where it
is set. The time period and the location in which the story is set,
affect the play's staging.
Performance
It is another important element of drama, as the impact that a
story has on the audiences is largely affected by the
performances of the actors. When a written play is transformed
into a stage performance, the actors cast for different roles, the
way they portray the characters assigned to them, and the way
their performances are directed are some important factors that
determine the play's impact.
Music
This element includes the use of sounds and
rhythm in dialogs as well as music compositions
that are used in the plays. The background score,
the songs, and the sound effects used should
complement the situation and the characters in
it.
Visual Element
While the dialog and music are the audible
aspects of drama, the visual element deals with
the scenes, costumes, and special effects used in
it. The visual element of drama, also known as
the spectacle, renders a visual appeal to the stage
setup.
The structure of the story comprises the way in which it is
dramatized. How well the actors play their roles and the story's
framework constitute the structure of drama. Direction is an
essential constituent of a play. A well-directed story is more
effective. Stagecraft defines how the play is presented to the
audiences. The use and organization of stage properties and the
overall setting of a play are a part of stagecraft, which is a key
element of drama.
Symbols are often used to give hints of the future
events in the story. They complement the other
elements of a scene and make it more effective.
The use of contrasts adds to the dramatic element
of a play. It could be in the form of contrasting
colors, contrasting backdrops, an interval of
silence followed by that of activity and noise, or a
change in the pace of the story.

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