Drama and Tragedy Quiz

Drama Definition and Origins

• Drama originates from the Greek words "dráō" (to act) and "drâma" (a play).
• In literature, drama portrays events (fictional or not) through written dialogue (prose or poetry).
• Performances can be on stage, film, or radio.
• English uses "play" for drama and "playwright" for creator, rather than "drama" and "dramatist."
• A playhouse is the building, rather than a theater.
• Greek drama emerged during religious festivals honoring Dionysus.
• Included tragedy, comedy, and satyr plays.

Types of Drama

• Tragedy: Portrays serious issues (death, disaster, suffering) with somber characters and outcomes. (Titanic, Romeo and Juliet, The Fault in Our Stars)
• Comedy: Aims to make audiences laugh with happy endings and lightheartedness, often with clever wordplay. (3 Idiots, Ang Tanging Ina, Kita-Kita)
• Melodrama: Presents profound stories (tearjerkers) with emotional intensity and sentimental elements. (Seven Sundays, Rewind, Anak)
• Farce: Uses physical humor (slapstick, clowning) in ludicrous situations for comedic effect. (The Mask, Home Alone, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation)
• Musical: Combines songs, dialogue, acting, and dance. (Frozen, Wonka, Ang Huling El Bimbo Musical)
• Opera: Lines are sung.

Literary Elements of Drama

• Plot: Sequence of events (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, denouement).
  • Linear Plot: Follows a traditional structure.
  • Episodic Plot: Consists of parts and chapters.
  • Flashback Plot: Includes flashbacks during the story.
• Script: Written words and directions for a play.
• Characters: People portrayed in the drama.
• Setting: Time and place of the play's action.
• Dialogue: Conversation between characters.
• Monologue: One person's extended speech.
• Soliloquy: A monologue revealing a character's private thoughts.

Literary Devices

• Literary Devices: Creative writing methods to convey the author's message, aid visualization, interpretation, and analysis.
• Tone: The overall attitude or mood of a text (shaped by word choice and format).
• Theme: The main idea or subject of a piece of writing (movie, etc.).
• Point of View: Perspective from which the story is told.
• Exposition: Author's explanation within a story (often for background).
• Foreshadowing: Hints at future events.
• Idioms: Familiar expressions with figurative meanings.
• Symbolism: Use of objects or images to represent abstract ideas.
• Imagery: Words that evoke sensory experience.

Performance Elements of Drama

• Acting: Incorporates body, voice, and face to manifest characters.

• Two Major Acting Approaches:

  • Emotional/Subjective: Actor embodies the role emotionally.
  • Technical/Objective: Actor utilizes skills to portray the role without emotional investment.

• Key to Characterization:

  • Internalizing: Understanding the character's inner nature
  • Externalizing: Representing the character's true nature.
  • Concentration: Focusing all skills and energy on the current task.
  • Observation: Closely watching human behavior to portray characters.
  • Emotional Memory: Recalling and using past feelings.
  • Motivation: The "why" behind a character's actions.
  • Playing the Conditions: Factors influencing character actions (time, place, objects, individual state).
  • Playing the Objectives: Ways a character achieves goals.
  • Energy: The driving force behind performance.
  • Empathy: Understanding others' emotions.

• Speaking: Delivery of lines.

  • Breath Control: Proper use of breath while speaking.
  • Vocal Expression: Using voice to manifest character.
  • Diction: Clarity of speech and pronunciation.
  • Projection: Effectiveness of voice in reaching the audience.
  • Inflection: Variations in pitch and volume of the voice.

• Nonverbal Expression: Gestures, facial expression, body alignment.

Technical Elements of Drama

• Technical elements enhance the production by creating mood and atmosphere. Design's impact is significant on audience experience, providing context, setting, and production type.
• Production Designer: Has overall responsibility for design, working closely with the director.
• Set and Props: Physical environment and moveable objects on the stage.
• Costumes: Clothing and accessories for character depiction and period.
• Makeup: Costumes, wigs, body paint for transforming actors into characters.
• Lighting: Placement, intensity, and color of stage lights, communicating environment, mood, or feeling.
  • Spot light: Hard-edged, focuses on a character or element.
  • Fresnel light: Softer-edged, good overall light.
  • Flood light: Wide angled light, less control over spread.
  • Strobe light: Flashing light, special effects; jerky actor movements.
• Music and Sound: Adding sounds and music for mood, character, and environment.
• Set: Physical space where the play takes place, setting the mood and environment.
• Set Design: Sets the mood and tells the audience about the characters' surroundings.

Stage Types

• Arena: Stage in the center, audience surrounding.
• Thrust: Stage with the audience on three sides.
• Proscenium: Stage with a frame (arch) separating the audience from the action.

Stage Directions

• Upstage/Downstage: Areas relative to the audience.
• Stage Right/Left: Directions from the actor's perspective.
• Wings: Off-stage areas.
• Apron: Area between the curtain and stage edge.