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dramatic structurePage 36

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Dramatic Structure

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•a play’s sequence of events, often represented on/by a triangle

Dramatic Structure

1. Expositionis off the triangle

#1--Exposition•What we know about the play before the real action starts

•It can come from the dialogue

•It can come from visual elements•costumes, setting, or props

•It can come from the program

•It is off the triangle

#1--Exposition

•All the background so we can understand the

play:

•who is protagonist [main character]?

•who is the antagonist?

•what is the setting, including season & time

of day?

•what is the basic conflict?

#1--Exposition Examples

•Romeo & Juliet

•R&J = dual protagonist

•setting = Verona

•Basic conflicts = R&J’s families hate one

another

•Season = summer

•Juliet’s dad is having a party

Exposition“The Three Little Pigs”

•3 Pigs get kicked out of their homes by Mom

•Each pig must go his own way & build his own cozy home

1.Some of the components of exposition are ___ and ___.

2. An example of an expositional element from a play is ___.

3. One can find information about the exposition from ___ and ___.

4.Exposition is ___.

On page 37 in your notebook, please select 2 of the following to complete:

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DramaticStructure

2. Inciting Incident

#2--Inciting Incident

•Point at which the story actually begins

•Inciting incident = Exciting incident

•So important that most playwrights wave a flag just before it's introduced

•They do this with a• (Pause) stage direction •(General stage direction) involving a physical action

•note that stage directions are usually in italics

#2--Inciting Incident

#2--Inciting Incident Examples

•When Romeo sees Juliet for the first time

•When Macbeth meets up with 3 Witches who tell him that he will be king

•When Oedipus sends for Tiresius who says to back off on the search for the killer

Inciting Incident“The Three Little Pigs”

•The wolf wants some lunch...and blows on the first pig’s door

Dramatic Structure

3. Rising Action

#3--Rising Action

•All the important events that occur before the climax

•All series of events that lead up to the most important moment in the play

•Short plays have few events

•Long plays have more events

•Typically you will be asked to record 3 - 5 for any play we analyze

FYI: Don’t write this...

Rising Action“The Three Little Pigs”

•Pig #1 goes to Pig #2 and seeks shelter

•Wolf comes & blows down #2’s house

•Pigs #1 & #2 whine to Pig #3 for shelter

•Wolf tries to blow down #3’s house

1.Critical attributes of dramatic structure include___ and ___.

2. An example of an inciting incident is ___.

3. The key components of an inciting incident include ___ and ___.

4.To define the rising action of a play, it is necessary to understand ___ because ___.

On page 25 in your notebook, please select 1 of the following to complete:

On page ... in your notebook, please select 2 of the following to complete:

1.Critical attributes of dramatic structure include___ and ___.

2. An example of an inciting incident is ___.

3. The key components of an inciting incident include ___ and ___.

4.To define the rising action of a play, it is necessary to understand ___ because ___.

4. Climax

Dramatic Structure

#4--Climax

•Most exciting/intense moment on stage

•Turning point for protagonist

•change for protagonist--for better or for worse

#4--Climax Examples•Most exciting/intense moment on stage

•Characters may

•die [all bad guys in Shakespearean tragedy]

•express their passion for one another

•reveal something alarming [Oh no, I have been sleeping with my mother and we have children?!]

•do something alarming based on that information [stab out their eyes, kill someone, kill themselves]

Climax“The Three Little Pigs”

•Wolf goes down chimney

•will he eat the pigs?

•will he get trapped in the pot of boiling water?

4. Falling Action

Dramatic Structure

#4--Falling Action

•All the events/action that happen right after the climax

•May be a moment of final suspense in which final outcome of conflict is in doubt

#4--Falling Action Examples

•Juliet awakens and offs herself

•Macbeth’s head is displayed on a stick

•Rizzo tells Kenickie she’s not pregnant

•Soup’s on at the pig # 3’s house

Falling Action“The Three Little Pigs”

5. Resolution

Dramatic Structure

#5--Resolution

•How the story ends

•How the conflict is finally resolved

•How the order is restored

•Come full circle

•Romeo & Juliet’s family must forgive one another

•A new king is crowned/name as order is restored

•Sandy & Danny ride off in Greased Lightning Car

#5--Resolution Examples

•Pigs realize they must work together

•Mom says she’s proud

Resolution“The Three Little Pigs”