Drama

Elements of Drama

Act – A short performance by one or more entertainers or to represent (fictitious or historical character) with one’s person.

Scene- A division of a play, film novel, etc representing a single episode

Exposition- A  large scale public exhibition or show.

Conflict – To be contradictory, at variance or in opposition.

Complication- A complex combination of elements or thing.

Climax- A decisive moment that is of maximum intensity or a turning point in a plot or  the highest peak/point within the storyline.

Denouement- The final resolution or the unravelling of a plot as of a drama or novel.

Peripetia – A sudden turn of events or an unexpected reversal in literary work.

Characterization- The creation of fictitious characters as in literary work.

Protagonist – The leading character of a drama or literary work

Antagonist- The opponent of the hero or protagonist.

Main Plot – The main idea of the story.

Sub plot – The main idea being portrayed with different themes.

Forms of Drama

Comedy- A play, movie etc of light and humorous character with a cheerful ending.

History- A drama presenting historical events.

Tragedy- A literary composition as a novel dealing with a sombre theme carried to a tragic conclusion.

Romance- A medieval Narrative

Tragic Comedy – A dramatic or other literary composition combing elements of both tragedy and comedy.

Theatre of the Absurd- A theatre in which naturalist convention of plot and characterization are ignored or distracted in order to convey the irrationality of existence and the essential isolation and importance of humanity.

Satire- A literary composition or genre in which human folly and vice are held up to scorn, derision or ridicule.

Modern Drama- A western development of drama at the beginning of the late 19^th century.

Melodrama-A dramatic form that exaggerates emotion and emphasises plot or action at the expense of characterization.

Features of Drama

Monologue – A dramatic or comic piece spoken entirely by a single performer.

Dialogue – The conversation between characters in a novel , drama etc.

Soliloquy- A speech in a drama in which a character, alone or as if alone discloses innermost thoughts.

Aside- Something spoken by an actor to or for the audience and supposedly not heard by others on stage.

Set – To arrange the scenery, properties, lights etc on (stage) for an act or scene.

Stage Direction- The words written to show how things are to be arranged in the play or placement of things in the Act.

Stage Convention- The deal with engineering, products tied to the story and how it affects the audience response.

Chorus-An Actor or group of actors functioning like the ancient Greek chorus as in Elizabethan drama

 Dramatic Unities- The unities of time, place, and actions  that are observed in classical drama.

Literary Devices

Imagery – A word or sequence of words that refers to any sensory experience.

Motif- Some aspect of literature resource which reoccurs frequently.

Symbolism-The representation of a person of things through different ways in the novel or play.

Dramatic Irony- A speech or action in a story which has great significance to the audience than to the character who speaks or performs because the audience pocess knowledge of upcoming events whiles the character does not.

 Tragic Irony- The use of dramatic irony to allow the audience to be aware of the character, speech or actions will bring tragedy while the character is ignorant of the fact

Juxtaposition- the use of two themes, characters, phrases words or situations for comparison or contrast.