Elements of Drama

The Elements of Drama
Introduction
 Reading a play, or drama, is very different
from reading a short story or novel.
 In a play, there are no long descriptions of
setting or characters.
 Instead, the entire action of the play is told
through dialogue and stage directions.
 Like a short story or novel, however, a
drama does contain the basic elements of
fiction and plot.
Drama
 Comes from the
Greek Word,
“Dran”
 Itmeans “to do”
or “to act”
 The doing/acting
makes drama
Drama…
 A drama tells a story and includes
such elements as character, setting,
plot, and theme.
 A drama is written to be performed in
a theater OR to be performed on
screen or film.
Drama…
 A SCRIPT is the written
form of a play.
 Scripts are used in stage
productions, for movies,
and for television shows.
 A PLAYWRIGHT is the
author of a play.
 A SCRIPTWRITER is
the author of a
television or movie
script.
ELEMENTS OF DRAMA
 Acts and Scenes
 Cast of Characters
 Dialogue
 Monologue
 Plot
 Setting
 Stage Directions
 Theme
ACTS AND SCENES
 An ACT is a group of
two or more scenes
that form a major
division of a play.
 A SCENE is one part
of the action, usually
happening in a
particular time and
place.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
 A cast of characters
is a list that describes
who is in the play and
often how they are
related to each other.
DRAMATIC SPEECH
 Dialogue- A
conversation among
characters in a play
 Monologue-A long
speech by one single
character (private
thoughts). Also,
referred to as a
soliloquy.
PLOT
 Plot is the action of

main events of a
drama.
 Plot follows the plot
diagram like in a
novel or short story:
 exposition, rising
action, climax, falling
action, resolution
A plot diagram is a tool that is commonly used to organize a story
into specific parts. Once the parts of the plot diagram are
identified, it is easier to analyze the content. A plot diagram also
gives a common framework for analyzing and understanding
written prose.
A plot analysis uses the plot diagram to ask and answer questions
about the plot of a story. Analyzing the story using the diagram and
the accompanying questions helps the reader to better understand
the story. See the following diagram and accompanying questions:
The exposition or the introduction gives background information
about the main characters, establishes the setting, and states the
problem in the story.
The rising action is where the tension or suspense builds and the
problem becomes more complicated. There is often more than one
step in this part of the plot analysis. When analyzing a piece of
writing, the inciting incident is often the final part in the rising
action that happens just before the climax. It is the event that
forces the main character or characters into action.
The conflict in the story is often introduced in the exposition but is

given more detail throughout the rising action. The conflict can be
between characters (man vs. man), between a character and
societal norms or values (man vs. society), between a character and
natural forces (such as weather or animals), or between a
character and him or herself when he or she has an internal
struggle (man vs. self).
The climax is the decisive moment or the crossroads in the
story. This is usually the most exciting part in the story and often
makes the reader keep reading.
The falling action is the sequence of events that happen after

the climax that lead to a resolution for the characters.
The resolution is the result or conclusion of the story. This is

how things turn out for the characters who were involved in the
conflict.
SETTING
 Setting is where and

when the play takes
place.
 In a play, the setting is
usually described in a
note or stage direction
at the opening of the
play and each scene.
STAGE DIRECTIONS
 Stage directions describe

details of the setting and
sound effects as well as
directing characters how
to speak their lines, move,
act, and look.
 Found in brackets [ ]
 Describe scenery and how
characters speak
 C, Center Stage
 L, Stage Left
 R, Stage Right
 U, Upstage or Rear
 D, Downstage or Front
THEME
 Theme is a statement
about life around
which the playwright
builds the play.
 A play’s theme is its
central idea or
message.
READING DRAMA
Before, During, and After
Reading Strategies
BEFORE READING
 SET A PURPOSE FOR READING BY
ASKING YOURSELF THE
FOLLOWING:
 What are the main characters like, and what is the
relationship among them?
 What is the central conflict, and how is it
resolved?
 What is the theme of the play?
BEFORE READING
 PREVIEW THE PLAY BY USING THE
FOLLOWING CHECKLIST:
 the title page, including the title and playwright
 the cast of characters
 the general setting
 the number of pages, acts, and scenes
 any background information, photos, or

illustrations
BEFORE READING
 PLAN A STRATEGY TO HELP YOU
ORGANIZE THE PLOT OF THE PLAY
AS YOU READ.
 you will be using reading check questions
and a plot diagram to help organize the

events as they unfold.
DURING READING
 READ WITH A PURPOSE BY ASKING
THE FOLLOWING BEFORE READING
QUESTIONS AGAIN:
 What are the main characters like, and what is the
relationship among them?
 What is the central conflict, and how is it
resolved?
 What is the theme of the play?
Teleplay Terms
 Fade In: The picture  Fade to Black: The
gradually appears on picture gradually
the screen. disappears until all
 Pan: A swiveling that remains is a
movement of the blank screen.
camera from one side  Cut To: A sudden
to another. change from one
 Long Shot: A camera scene or character to
shot from a far off. another.
Teleplay Terms
 Close-Up: A
camera shot that is
very close to its
subject.
Drama Types
1. One Act Play
- is brief, condensed, and single in effect
- one situation or episode is presented permitting
no minor plots or side actions that may distract
attention for the single purpose and effect being
developed
- characters are few in number, quickly introduced
- dialogue and plot must carry the action smoothly
and quickly
- it may consist one or more scenes
Elements of One-Act Play
Theme
Plot
Character
Dialogue
1. Theme
-Theme is necessary
-Ask your self what is the play about
-Mind needs to be clear about the theme
-Characters and plot need to point to and

support the theme
2. Plot
-There is only one significant event
-Determining place for hero where all can be

won at last
-The events must be inferred or understood by
the audience
3. Character
-There is not much area to develop all
characters
- The hero needs to be more developed and
focused on
- The antagonist can be developed to show
conflict
- Some other characters can also be a little
bit developed to move to the story forward
4. Dialogue
- Economy is the key aspect here
- Each line must be crafted carefully to focus

on the theme, the incident and the
character of the hero
- The dialogues need to be concise and full
of meaning
- Dialogues irrelevant to the plot must be
omitted

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The Elements of Drama

 Plot is the action of

The conflict in the story is often introduced in the exposition but is

The falling action is the sequence of events that happen after

The resolution is the result or conclusion of the story. This is

 Setting is where and

 Stage directions describe

 the general setting

 the number of pages, acts, and scenes

 any background information, photos, or

and a plot diagram to help organize the

-Ask your self what is the play about

-Mind needs to be clear about the theme

-Characters and plot need to point to and

-Determining place for hero where all can be

- Each line must be crafted carefully to focus

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