English 3 – American Literature

* Components of Drama

*Act

*A major unit of a drama, or play. A play may be subdivided into several acts. Many modern plays have one, two, or three acts. Older dramas often have five acts. Acts may be divided into one or more scenes.

*Comedy

*A type of drama that is humorous and often has a happy ending.

*Tragedy

*A play in which a main character suffers a downfall. The downfall may result from outside forces or from a weakness within the character.

*Dialogue

*Conversation between characters in a literary work. Dialogue can contribute to characterization, create mood, advance the plot and develop theme.

*Scene

*A subdivision of an act in a play. Each scene usually takes place in a specific setting and time.

*Script

*The text of a drama (play), film or broadcast.

*Stage directions

*Instructions written by a playwright to describe the appearance and actions of characters as well as the sets, props, costumes, sound effects and lighting for a play.

*Monologue

*A long speech by a character in a literary work, especially a drama.

*Soliloquy

*In a drama, a long speech by a character who is alone on stage (or is under the impression of being alone). A soliloquy reveals the private thoughts and emotions of that character.

*Plot

*The sequence of events in a story, play, or narrative poem. A plot revolves around a central conflict faced by the main characters.

*Conflict

*The problem faced by the main characters in a play.

*External Conflict

*This exists when a character struggles against some outside force, such as another person, nature, society, or fate.

*Internal Conflict

*This exists within the mind of a character who is torn between opposing feelings or goals.

*Exposition

*The beginning of a story, play or narrative poem. It introduces the story’s conflict, characters and setting.

*Rising Action

*Builds suspense and adds complications to the conflict in a story, play or narrative poem.

*Climax

*The point of highest emotional pitch in a story, play or narrative poem.

*Falling Action

*The logical result of the climax falling as the story, play or narrative poem begins to make its way to a resolution.

*Resolution

*Also called the denouement. It is the final outcome of a story, play or narrative poem.

*Tragic Hero

*The main character in a tragedy. Often he/she is a person of dignified or heroic stature. The weakness within this character is known as the tragic flaw.

*Stated Theme

*A theme which is expressed directly in a work of literature.

*Implied Theme

*A theme that is revealed gradually through elements such as plot, character, setting, point of view, symbol and irony.

*Historical Context

*The history beyond the specific words of a literary work that are relevant to understanding the meaning.

****The communist paranoia of the 1950s is part of The Crucible’s historical context.

*Dialect

*A variation of a language spoken within a particular region or by a particular social or ethnic group. Dialects may differ from the standard form of language in vocabulary, expressions, pronunciation and grammar.

*Technical Components

*The Greek playwright, Sophocles, in the fifth century B.C. identified the elements that must be present in a play. These are largely outlined within the stage notes by the playwright.  The six elements involve: Thought, Theme, Ideas; Action or Plot; Characters; Language; Music; and Spectacle (scenery, costumes and special effects).

*Performance Components

*These are the way that the actor chooses to deliver the lines. Remember, all plays are meant to be performed, and through a play’s performance the director and actors can achieve a broad range of effects to encourage particular interpretations of the work.