Elements of Drama –

8th Grade

Ms. Hammond

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Definition

�Drama - a story that is

written to be acted out in

front of a live audience.

�Also called a play

Shared Elements with Novels/Short

Story Writing

� Character(s)

� Setting

� Conflict

� Plot

� Theme

� Symbolism

� Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution

� Characterization

� Figurative Language

Drama Terms – Record these in your journal

�Playwright – a person who writes

(or wrote) a drama/play.

�Comedy – a type of drama that

is amusing (funny)

�Tragedy – a type of drama that is

sad or ends in disaster

Drama Terms – Record these in your journal

�Stage – an area where a play is performed�Descriptions of the setting and what happened before the scene takes place

�Entrances & exits

�Acts & Scenes – divisions of a play (like chapters in a book)�Scenes usually change with the setting or subject/events of the play

�Stage Directions – instructions that tell the

actor what to do or how to say something

�Cast of Characters – major & minor

characters listed with descriptions

�Actors – live people chosen to represent the

characters in the play

Drama Terms – Record these in your journal

Drama Terms – Record these in your journal

�Dialogue – the main way the story is told;

conversation with other actors/characters

�Monologue – a long speech given by one

character in front of other characters

�Soliloquy – a speech spoken by an actor

alone on stage

�Aside – many actors on stage; one actor turns and talks to the audience

Drama Notes– Record in your journal

�The Plot is carried out through dialogue and

stage directions of the actors on stage

�Playwrights often use dramatic devices to

help the audience understand internal

conflicts:

�Monologues, siloliquy, and asides

�Symbolism of characters, setting, and props

�Antagonist – the character that is against

the protagonist

Drama Terms – Record these in

your journal

�Protagonist – the main character in the

drama

�Antagonist – the character that is against

the protagonist

�Minor Characters – characters that are not

seen a lot, but they are still important

�Irony – a contrast (difference) between what

is said and what is meant or between what

happens and what is expected to happen.

There are 3 types of irony:

�Dramatic Irony – the audience knows more than

the characters in the drama

�Irony of Circumstance/Situational Irony – the

opposite of what is expected occurs

�Verbal Irony – characters say the opposite of

what they mean