Drama and Literature Overview

Tragedy

• The traditional symbol of tragedy is a sad mask.
• The tragic hero is fallible and their downfall is a result of their choices.

Comedy

• The word comedy comes from the Greek "komos," meaning a revel or celebration.
• Comedy is divided into "high" and "low" varieties.
• A regular comedy is a play of one to five acts.
• Plays are a genre of literature designed to be performed on stage.

Plot and Drama Structure

• The dramatic structure of a play refers to the plot.
• Plays are divided into acts.
• The plot revolves around a conflict: person versus self, another person, group, nature, or God/universe.
• The play's action and tension are built up to create an impact on the audience.
• The introduction can begin with the conflict immediately, called "in medias res."
• Hints of an impending conflict can be provided in the introduction.

Rising Action or Complication

• The rising action is the series of events that lead to the climax.

Turning Point, Climax, Crisis

• The turning point is the moment when the protagonist's fate is sealed.

Falling Action

• The falling action is the series of events that occur after the climax.

Denouement or Resolution

• The denouement is the final outcome of the play.

Tone in Drama

• The writer establishes the tone of a play through the use of language and character revelation.

Key Concepts

• Theme: The central idea or message of the play.
• Conflict: The central struggle in the play.
• Suspense: The feeling of anticipation and excitement created by the playwright.

Characters

• Characters must be well-developed and realistic.
• Characters should be portrayed authentically based on factors like gender, social class, age, education, marital status, occupation, and political beliefs.

Dialogue

• Dialogue is the primary component of a play.
• Dialogue should be realistic and reflect natural speech patterns.
• Avoid clichés, excessive use of character names, and long uninterrupted speeches.
• Theme should be conveyed through the events of the play, not through dialogue.

Dramatic Action

• Dramatic action defines a character's development from static to changing.

Figures of Speech and Imagery

• Simile: A comparison using "like" or "as."
• Metaphor: An implied comparison.
• Personification: Giving human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract concepts.
• Apostrophe: Addressing objects as if they were real.
• Hyperbole: Exaggeration for effect or humor.
• Oxymoron: Combining two contradictory words.
• Irony:
  • Verbal: Saying the opposite of what is meant.
  • Situational: The opposite of what is expected happening.
  • Dramatic: The audience knows more than the characters.
• Alliteration: Repetition of initial consonant sounds.
• Onomatopoeia: Words that sound like what they describe.
• Metonymy: Substituting a word for another that signifies the same thing.
• Synecdoche: Using a part to represent the whole.
• Periphrasis: Using a descriptive phrase instead of a noun.
• Euphemism: Using a less offensive word for a harsh one.
• Climax: Arrangement of words or ideas in order of increasing importance.
• Anti-Climax: A decrease in importance of what is said, opposite to the climax.
• Antithesis: Balancing two opposing ideas.
• Pun: A play on words with humorous effect.
• Allusion: Reference to a literary, biblical, socio-political, scientific, or mythological event or character.
• Paradox: A contradictory yet true statement.
• Assonance: Repetition of initial vowel sounds.
• Anaphora: Repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of clauses or sentences.
• Visual: Creating a picture in words, something visualizable.
• Auditory: Creating sounds in the reader's mind.
• Olfactory: Creating smells in the reader's mind.