Elements of Drama: Plot, Setting, Character & Theme

• Setting includes the time, place, as well as the social and physical environment.
• Plot is the arrangement or sequence of events.
• Dialogue constitutes speech between two characters.
• Theme is the central idea.

Character Types

• Main characters have significant roles, with the action focused on them.
• Secondary characters support the main action by providing information, contrast, or pathos (emotion, sorrow, pity).

Conflict

• Conflict involves struggle or opposition between characters, groups, or ideas.
• External conflict can be character versus character or character versus fate/nature.
• Internal conflict is character versus self.

Aristotle's Three Unities

• Time: The action occurs within 24 hours
• Place: The action occurs in one setting.
• Action: There is one main action without subplots.

Tragedy

• Tragedy is the imitation of serious action, showing the protagonist's change in fortune from prosperity to misery.

Tragic Hero

• Tragic heroes are of high rank with admirable qualities, but possess a flaw that leads to errors in judgment and downfall.

Protagonist and Antagonist

• The protagonist is the most important character, the action revolves around them.
• The antagonist opposes the protagonist.

The Chorus

• The chorus is a group of 3-15 (sometimes up to 40) who sing, dance, and provide commentary, advice, and express public feelings.

Exposition

• Exposition is found at the beginning, introducing main characters, theme, setting, mood, and issues.

Offstage Violence

• Greek drama avoids on-stage violence; it is reported.

Dramatic Irony

• Dramatic irony is the contrast between what is expected and what occurs, or between what is said and the truth, known by the audience but not by all characters.

Denouement

• Denouement is the resolution, conclusion, or end of a play, which may be open-ended.
• Climax is the play's highest point of action, followed by a fall in action.
• A foil is a character enhancing the features of main characters through contrast.
• Soliloquy is a character's speech to oneself, revealing inner thoughts on stage.

Deus Ex Machina

• Deus ex machina refers to a device, like a crane, used to lower a god character onto the stage.
• Catharsis is the religious and moral purpose of Greek Drama by arousing horror and pity, achieving catharsis through purging/cleansing.

Development of Greek Drama

• Greek drama originated in religious celebrations with song and dance.
• By the 5th century BC, Athenians transformed Dionysus celebrations into a festival with dancing choruses and play competitions.
• Plays were selected by a committee and their production was a privilege entrusted to wealthy citizens.
• The Dionysia festival was a public holiday with tragedies and satyr plays presented over three days; dramatists were awarded prizes.

Theaters

• Greek theaters resembled football stadiums, built into hills with acoustics.
• The orchestra, or "dancing space" was a large circular area for the chorus near the skene
• Actors wore bright costumes, masks, and high-soled shoes (buskins/cothurni).
• Theatron is the viewing place where the audience sat, initially on the hillside, later on stone or marble seats.
• Skene was the building behind the stage, decorated as a palace or temple for costume changes, entrances/exits and for gods/characters to appear on the roof.