An An IntroduIntroduction to ction to DramaDrama

DramaDramaLiterature that is meant Literature that is meant to be performed before to be performed before an audience, otherwise an audience, otherwise known as a play.known as a play.

Contains elements of Contains elements of plot, character, setting, plot, character, setting, and theme.and theme.

Drama Drama Uses Uses

Several Several Dramatic Dramatic Devices…Devices…

PunPunJokes that result Jokes that result when an actor uses when an actor uses a word that has two a word that has two meanings, and both meanings, and both of those meanings of those meanings can make sense in can make sense in the line.the line.

Please excuse the PunPlease excuse the Pun(some ‘punny’ examples)(some ‘punny’ examples)

““The butcher backed into the meat The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his grinder and got a little behind in his work.”work.”

““Two silk worms had a race. They Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.”ended up in a tie.”

““I wondered why the baseball kept I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.”getting bigger. Then it hit me.”

““The man who survived mustard gas The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.”veteran.”

A few more puns…A few more puns…

““A dog gave birth to puppies near A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.”the road and was cited for littering.”

““No matter how much you push the No matter how much you push the envelope, it’ll still be stationary.”envelope, it’ll still be stationary.”

““A small boy swallowed some coins A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, ‘No how he was, a nurse said, ‘No change yet.’”change yet.’”

OxymoronOxymoronCombinations of Combinations of

words that mean the words that mean the opposite.opposite.

Examples:Examples:““Heavy lightness”Heavy lightness”““Cold fire”Cold fire”““Jumbo shrimp”Jumbo shrimp”

ParadoxParadoxStatements that appear Statements that appear to contradict to contradict themselves, but still themselves, but still make sense.make sense.

Example:Example:““My only love sprung My only love sprung from my only hate!”from my only hate!”

AllusionAllusionReference to a Reference to a statement, a person, statement, a person, a place, or an event a place, or an event from literature, from literature, history, religion, history, religion, mythology, politics, mythology, politics, etc.etc.

IronyIronyThere are 3 types of irony: There are 3 types of irony:

dramatic, situational, and verbaldramatic, situational, and verbal1. A situation that is understood by the 1. A situation that is understood by the

audience, but not by the characters audience, but not by the characters 2. Contrast between expectation and 2. Contrast between expectation and

reality…what is expected and what reality…what is expected and what actually happens actually happens

3. What is said and what is really meant.3. What is said and what is really meant.

ImageryImageryLanguage that appeals Language that appeals to the senses.to the senses.

““Word pictures”Word pictures”

HyperboleHyperboleExaggeration Exaggeration

for effect.for effect.““I’m so hungry I I’m so hungry I

could eat a horse!”could eat a horse!”““I nearly died I nearly died

laughing.”laughing.”

Drama is Drama is Written Written

as as Poetry…Poetry…

FormFormThe structure or The structure or arrangement of a written arrangement of a written piece.piece.

Example: The form of Example: The form of poetry is groups of lines poetry is groups of lines called stanzas.called stanzas.

StanzaStanzaA group of consecutive A group of consecutive lines in a poem that lines in a poem that form a single unit.form a single unit.

ProseProse Ordinary speech or writing, without Ordinary speech or writing, without

metrical structure.metrical structure. In In Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet, prose is mostly , prose is mostly

spoken by the common people and spoken by the common people and occasionally by Mercutio when he is occasionally by Mercutio when he is joking.joking.

RhymeRhymeTwo or more words that Two or more words that have the same ending have the same ending sound.sound.

Ex: Ex: Sing; WingSing; WingEx: Ex: Sunny; FunnySunny; Funny

CoupletsCoupletsTwo consecutive lines of Two consecutive lines of

poetry that rhyme.poetry that rhyme.Shakespeare uses these Shakespeare uses these

when he rhymes.when he rhymes. Example:Example:

““Good night, good night! Parting is Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrowsuch sweet sorrow

That I shall say good night till it be That I shall say good night till it be morrow.”morrow.”

RhythmRhythmMusical quality in Musical quality in language produced by language produced by repetition.repetition.

Example:Example:““Three blind mice. Three Three blind mice. Three blind mice. See how they blind mice. See how they run…”run…”

MeterMeterThe rhythm created by The rhythm created by a sequence of words a sequence of words that has a repeated that has a repeated pattern of accented pattern of accented syllables.syllables.

Iambic Iambic PentameterPentameterAn example of meter.An example of meter.

An unstressed syllable is followed An unstressed syllable is followed by a stressed syllable (iambic by a stressed syllable (iambic meter).meter).

Example: pre-ferExample: pre-ferThere are five iambic units in each There are five iambic units in each

line.line.EX: “But soft! What light through EX: “But soft! What light through

yonder window breaks?”yonder window breaks?”

Blank VerseBlank Verse(Unrhymed Iambic Pentameter)(Unrhymed Iambic Pentameter)

““Blank” means there is no Blank” means there is no rhyme.rhyme.

Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet is written is written largely in unrhymed iambic largely in unrhymed iambic pentameter…otherwise pentameter…otherwise known as blank verse.known as blank verse.

Mark the rhythm of Mark the rhythm of these lines…these lines…

““Two of the fairest stars in Two of the fairest stars in all the heavenall the heaven

Having some business, do Having some business, do entreat her eyesentreat her eyes

To twinkle in their spheres To twinkle in their spheres till they return.”till they return.”