3rd 9 Weeks – English 1January 27, 2015

Elements of Drama Notes

A drama, or play, is a story written to be performed by actors.

What exactly IS drama anyway?

What makes it drama and not just a story?

• Character, conflict, dialogue, etc…

Features of a Drama:

Conflict

Conflict can be found in both short stories and drama; however, in drama the conflict is the struggle which propels the sequence of events within the plot. In other words, no CONFLICT, no story.

Dialogue

Dialogue, unlike in fiction, in drama the words spoken by the actors on stage are considered dialogue and help tell the story.

Acts & Scenes vs. Chapters

Acts or scenes are the basic structure of drama. A drama may have 1 or more acts, each may contain several scenes. Act 1, Scene IV…

Who wrote it?

Unlike with a short story or novel, the author of a drama is referred to as the playwright.

The playwright, provides a script, or text of the play. The script contains dialogue, scenes, and STAGE DIRECTIONS…

Stage Directions

Stage Directions tell how the play/work is to be performed by the actors/crew.

Stage Direction includes set, sounds, lighting effects, props, costumes, and acting.

Stage Directions are often printed in italics and set off in [brackets].

Stage Directions

Often playwrights will abbreviate stage directions to provide additional directions about where the actors should be when speaking from the stage.

O.S. – Offstage

D.S. – Downstage

U.S. – Upstage

Sets

Sets are the constructions that the actors use to play out their drama. They may represent historical periods, create moods with scenery, lighting, painted backdrops, or trap doors …

Props

Props are moveable objects, like umbrellas, that actors use onstage…

During the reading…

Each of you will have a responsibility: Actor/Reader: Your job is to read the part assigned and

use a strong voice. Vocabulary Enricher: You will handle any

new/unfamiliar words from the play. Summarizer: You will be responsible for keeping track

of the BIG ideas and plot. Discussion Director: You will start your group

discussion and come up with a list of questions while we read together as a class.

Before tomorrow’s class decide which responsibility you want to take on, readers WILL be assigned if there

are NO VOLUNTEERS…so be BRAVE!