Varieties of DramaVarieties of Drama

Focus QuestionsFocus Questions(Answer these questions in your notebook)(Answer these questions in your notebook)

What are the differences between What are the differences between tragedy and comedy?tragedy and comedy?

Think of some of the different Think of some of the different comedies you have seen. comedies you have seen. What are some of the devices What are some of the devices

playwrights use to make people laugh?playwrights use to make people laugh?

TragedyTragedy Tragedy – A play in which the protagonist does not Tragedy – A play in which the protagonist does not

achieve desired goals or is overcome by opposing achieve desired goals or is overcome by opposing forces.forces.

This is considered to be humanity’s highest literary This is considered to be humanity’s highest literary achievement.achievement.

The focus in every tragedy is the protagonist who The focus in every tragedy is the protagonist who faces a struggle and is eventually overcome by the faces a struggle and is eventually overcome by the opposing force (antagonist).opposing force (antagonist).

HamletHamlet Julius CaesarJulius Caesar Internal weaknessInternal weakness Too much prideToo much pride

Outcome seems predestined and the audience sees Outcome seems predestined and the audience sees there is nothing the tragic character can do to avoid there is nothing the tragic character can do to avoid it.it.

The tragic protagonist is brought from The tragic protagonist is brought from happiness to misery. Through the happiness to misery. Through the suffering they usually acquire a sense of suffering they usually acquire a sense of truth and self.truth and self.

They also become isolated from society They also become isolated from society because of a weakness or error in because of a weakness or error in judgment. (Marcus Brutus)judgment. (Marcus Brutus)

A tragedy must make the audience feel A tragedy must make the audience feel pity (for the main character) and fear pity (for the main character) and fear (that we too could have made the same (that we too could have made the same mistake).mistake).

5 Characteristics Found in Tragic 5 Characteristics Found in Tragic CharactersCharacters

Have a flaw or make an error with Have a flaw or make an error with serious consequences.serious consequences.

Make no apology for their actions.Make no apology for their actions. Set goals based on firm beliefs.Set goals based on firm beliefs. Know that anything worth having Know that anything worth having

demands some sacrifice.demands some sacrifice. They are willing to make the sacrifices They are willing to make the sacrifices

themselves (not asking others)themselves (not asking others)

ComedyComedy Comedy – A play that treats characters and Comedy – A play that treats characters and

situations in a humorous way and has a situations in a humorous way and has a happy ending.happy ending.

Comedy comes from Greek words Comedy comes from Greek words komos komos and and ode,ode, meaning “revel song”. meaning “revel song”.

In comedies all characters usually come In comedies all characters usually come together at the end of the play even villains.together at the end of the play even villains.

Usually deal with situations and characters Usually deal with situations and characters that most audiences can easily identify.that most audiences can easily identify.

Tragedy vs ComedyTragedy vs Comedy Based on strong human Based on strong human

emotions felt and emotions felt and understood by all.understood by all.

Inevitable – can’t change Inevitable – can’t change outcome.outcome.

EmotionalEmotional Protagonist fails to Protagonist fails to

achieve goals.achieve goals. Protagonist alienated Protagonist alienated

from society.from society. Protagonist average or Protagonist average or

better personbetter person

Comedy usually Comedy usually depends on situations depends on situations unique to a specific unique to a specific time and place.time and place.

PredictablePredictable Intellectual, mentalIntellectual, mental Protagonist achieves Protagonist achieves

goals.goals. Characters come Characters come

together.together. Protagonist less than Protagonist less than

average.average.

What are some of the things that make What are some of the things that make people laugh?people laugh?

Identify and explain the 7 common causes Identify and explain the 7 common causes of laughter.of laughter. ExaggerationExaggeration IncongruityIncongruity AnticipationAnticipation AmbiguityAmbiguity RecognitionRecognition ProtectionProtection ReliefRelief

Seven Common Causes of Seven Common Causes of Laughter.Laughter.

Types of ComedyTypes of Comedy Low Comedy – physical anticsLow Comedy – physical antics

3 stooges Carpenter scene

((The 3 Stooges 2012 movie trailer) 2012 movie trailer) Silent films relied on this.Silent films relied on this.

Play is quite exaggerated in performance.Play is quite exaggerated in performance. Farce – Main type of low comedy.Farce – Main type of low comedy.

Include practical jokes, clowning, and physical Include practical jokes, clowning, and physical humiliation (ear pulling, shin kicking, pie throwing)humiliation (ear pulling, shin kicking, pie throwing)

Burlesque – Similar to a farce, but much more Burlesque – Similar to a farce, but much more exaggerated. It is a mockery of a topic like exaggerated. It is a mockery of a topic like society’s views. society’s views.

The audience should have prior knowledge of the topic.The audience should have prior knowledge of the topic. Parody – Mocks a certain work by imitating the Parody – Mocks a certain work by imitating the

author’s style for comic effect. (Spaceballs on author’s style for comic effect. (Spaceballs on Star Wars)Star Wars)

Comedy (cont)Comedy (cont) High Comedy – a type of comedy High Comedy – a type of comedy

that includes satire, clever lines, that includes satire, clever lines, word plays (puns) and allusions.word plays (puns) and allusions.

One must pay attention to dialogue.One must pay attention to dialogue.

Satire – presents humourous attacks o Satire – presents humourous attacks o accepted conventions or society, holding accepted conventions or society, holding up human vices and follies to ridicule.up human vices and follies to ridicule.

A satirist has the goal to change something A satirist has the goal to change something for the better by ridiculing it. (Rick Mercer for the better by ridiculing it. (Rick Mercer Report)Report)

Screen scene – some actors hide Screen scene – some actors hide from other actors onstage. May pop from other actors onstage. May pop out to talk.out to talk.

Aside – Lines spoken directly to the Aside – Lines spoken directly to the audience.audience.

Caricature – An exaggeration of a Caricature – An exaggeration of a certain feature of a character or certain feature of a character or literary work.literary work.

Other types of DramaOther types of Drama

Identify a description, the features, Identify a description, the features, and an example of the following and an example of the following types of drama:types of drama: FantasyFantasy Romantic comedyRomantic comedy Sentimental comedySentimental comedy Melodrama Melodrama