Elements of Drama

Introduction

The word “drama” is derived from a Greek word that means “to do” or “to act”. Therefore, drama, being a genre in literature, means performance of a story. Drama is also described as a staged art where characters are assigned roles in a story or play to perform on stage. The roles are acted or presented in a manner such as that which would happen in reality. Therefore, drama involves reflecting, recreating and adapting reality on a stage. Drama is designed for performance in front of an audience, representing characters that can be human beings, animals, and spiritual beings among others. According to Sheryl (2010), drama is a “literal genre” that differs from all others since it is not only written to be read, but also to be performed on a stage, making an imitation of life through added techniques such as dialogue and action. Drama has several elements that make it qualify as a different genre of literature from all others. Elements of drama include character, plot, theme, dialogue, convention, genre, audience, stagecraft, design, and symbols.

Character

A character is a person appearing in a play, or a person described in the story. Every play consists of several characters in order to make it a complete play. Here, relationships between the characters are shown. Description of the character and the roles they take in any play is the work of the playwright. In any play, there are major and minor characters, with the main character or first person contesting in the conflict of the story being known as the protagonist. His opponent is known as the antagonist, the opposite party to the conflict. For instance, in Hamlet, Hamlet is the protagonist while Claudius is the antagonist. These two are the main characters since their personality is developed in detail. A character such as Marcellus who only serves to inform Hamlet of his father’s ghost is a minor character. Minor characters help to develop the main characters. Other types of actors include a stereotypical or stock character, one who appears in many plays through different forms (Sheryl, 2010).

Plot

Plot in any literal work refers to events taking place that make up the story and their relation to each other in terms of the sequence and pattern. As Sheryl (2010) notes “Plot is considered one of the most crucial elements in drama or a play.” A plot is also made up of its own elements that make it complete presenting a compelling play. These include the exposition, conflict, climax, falling action, and denouement. Exposition is the information needed in order for the audience to understand the meaning of the play. Exposition could occur through out the play as more and more is revealed as the play progresses. The conflict is the clashing forces between which characters have to take sides, especially what the protagonist and antagonist differ. The conflict could be between anything such as man vs. animal, nature vs. groups, among other types of conflicts. The climax is the point at which an event has to take one side, usually the most emotionally evoking moment. This shows a turning point of the story and does not necessarily mean the highest point of action. This is where most things go wrong and represents the highest tension. After the falling action and climax, the denouement or resolution follows representing the ending of the play.

Theme

The theme of the play is the main idea of the play or the message meant to be communicated to the audience out of the plot. Te plot is not just written for purposes of entertainment. Rather, there is a lesson or a central idea that it tries to relay to the audience. The theme can also be considered the purpose of the plot or storyline. For instance, showing a conflict between family members could serve to show betrayal by loved ones as the main theme. The theme is what one can learn out of the play that goes a far way than just entertainment. Its of importance note “The theme of the play could be stated through the dialogue or inferred through watching the play ” (Sheryl, 2010).

Dialogue

Dialogue is the speeches and words within the play. It represents the substance to which the plot exists, or the means through which the play plot is communicated to the audience. A character’s thoughts have to be communicated to the audience through dialogue. Thus, dialogue is the main means through which the story of the plot or play is delivered. In addition, the exposition of the play is delivered through the dialogue between the characters. The characters normally will be acting according to the dialogue they give, with each word chosen for each character appropriately. Dialogue also serves to determine the play, since, with a tragic play; the dialogue will use a serious tone, while a comic play will use funny words and dialogue to evoke laughter. Thus, each word used by the characters further contributes to the intended effect on the audience as well as delivery of the message.

Convention

Conventions in drama are the techniques that are used by actors or directors and writers to deliver the desired effect in a play. There are usually rules that the characters use to deliver a certain effect, which are accepted by both the audience and actors. For instance, the audience will understand that when an actor steps off the stage away from other actors to deliver a soliloquy the other actors are not supposed to be hearing. In the real sense, the other actors will hear, but the audience assumes they do not, to show the nature of actions taking place, which the audience will know it represents the thoughts of the character. Convention simply refers to techniques used for delivering the performance of a storyline in a play. Conventions can include technical ones such as costumes used, lighting of the stage, set, dialogues and monologue. Theatrical conventions are such as flashbacks, use of soliloquy, narrating a story within the play and having spoken thought loudly. Another convention is rehearsal convention that includes techniques such as still images.

Genre

Genre in drama describes the shared characteristics such as theme and structure (Sheryl, 2010). This is a way of classifying plays, just as it is used in other works of literature. Thus, genre of a play or drama refers to the classification under which a plays falls. There are several types of genres of drama, such as tragic, comic, and melodrama among others. Each genre has its characteristics that qualify it under the genre. For instance, with tragic genre, there are unpleasant things likely to happen such as death. Therefore, the plot will be showing how such tragedy will occur. Tragic genre will have tragic themes or themes illustrating tragedy such as death. In addition, each genre will have a structure used to deliver the story in order to evoke the intended reaction and emotions on the audience.

Audience

The audience is yet another highly significant element of drama, considered inseparable. Drama cannot be complete without an audience paying their attention as well as watching the play. Audience is simply defined as the people who come as spectators and listeners to a play. In addition, the definition of drama includes that it is set in front of an audience (Sheryl, 2010). Thus, the audience and drama cannot be separate since there would be no need of performance if nobody were to get the message. Equally, the audience would not enter a theater if there were no drama to be acted. Thus, both are indispensable. In addition, the audience has a role to play, especially in criticizing a play. Any person who watches the play and talks or responds to it whether positively or negatively depending on their views has managed to criticize the play.

Stagecraft

Stagecraft is the technical aspect concerned with the technical setting of theatrical stage. It is concerned with setting the stage and its technical requirements that include light focusing, design of costumes, makeup for artists to fit the plot, visual props, and sound among other. It ensures that the stage is well set according to the plot of the play. For instance, lighting is used to show interior and exterior. On the other hand, the costume would be used to illustrate the setting of the play, for instance, the Elizabethan era, while visual props will be used to highlight the same, as well as activities undertaken during the setting of the play.

Design

Design in drama refers to the design of the stage, where different designs can be used. Theater can also be defined in terms of the space in which it is set. As noted “The design could be anywhere since drama or theatrical production can be set anywhere including in the exterior, or indoors where a stage can be set ” (Wardrip-Fruin & Montfort, 2003). Therefore, drama does not have to be performed in an architecturally designed theater of stage. Mostly used theater stages in most places are end stage, thrust, and arena. The end stage is a raised platform mostly at the end of a rectangular space, with a curtain. Thrust stage is a platform that is surrounded by three sides with audiences. The arena is where the platform is surrounded from all sides by the audience. In addition, design will not only apply to the stage, but also other elements, or anything that can be designed such as set, props, lighting, actors, sound, singers, make up and costumes among others. Design could be used with most of the other elements.

Symbol

A symbol is an object or action that is used to represent a deeper meaning than the abject or action strikes. Symbolism is thus the use of symbols in drama to deliver deeper meaning or give clues to the theme of the play. Some things such as costumes used, gestures, dialogues, and even props could be symbolic. For instance, a certain dialogue in the play could represent more than just the literal meaning. It could be a symbol to something more than its literal meaning. For instance, more lighting could represent more hopes, or a candle. However, symbolism is not obvious and will be prone to different interpretation by those who realize it since there cannot be direct proving of the symbolism of an object (Wardrip-Fruin & Montfort, 2003).

References

Sheryl, C.L. (2010). Elements of Drama. Retrieved from http://litera1no4.tripod.com/elements.html

Wardrip-Fruin, N. & Montfort, N. (2003). The new media reader. Cambridge, Mass. U.A: MIT Press.