English: Drama

Drama began in ancient Greece dating back to 543 B.C.
It started as choral performances of dancing and singing honoring the Greek god, Dionysus, the god of wine.
A drama, which is written to be performed by actors in front of an audience, is a story told mainly through the speech and actions of characters.

1. Introduction to DramaIntroduction to Drama

2. HISTORY OF DRAMAHISTORY OF DRAMA
Drama began in Drama began in
ancient Greece ancient Greece
dating back to 543 dating back to 543
B.C.B.C.
It started as choral It started as choral
performances of performances of
dancing and singing dancing and singing
honoring the Greek honoring the Greek
god, Dionysus, the god, Dionysus, the
god of wine.god of wine.

3. In Greek drama, the actors all wore masks
to help the audience recognize the
character they were playing.
The “Agamemnon” Mask

4. What is your favorite television drama What is your favorite television drama
series, and why do you like to watch it?series, and why do you like to watch it?
Perhaps you identify Perhaps you identify
strongly with one of strongly with one of
the characters. the characters.
Maybe the plots are Maybe the plots are
intriguing, or you find intriguing, or you find
the dialogue funny. the dialogue funny.
You’ll find these You’ll find these
elements – and elements – and
others – in the others – in the
dramas you read as dramas you read as
well.well.

5. A drama, which is A drama, which is
written to be written to be
performed by actors performed by actors
in front of an in front of an
audience, is a story audience, is a story
told mainly through told mainly through
the speech and the speech and
actions of characters.actions of characters.

6. What is drama?What is drama?
Drama is a unique literary form because they
are designed to be acted out on a stage before an
audience. The word ‘drama’ comes from the
Greek word ‘dran’ meaning to act or to do.
As “literature in action,” drama brings As “literature in action,” drama brings
a story to life before our eyes. Unlike a story to life before our eyes. Unlike
most works of fiction that rely heavily most works of fiction that rely heavily
on narration, the story of a play or on narration, the story of a play or
drama is told through dialogue and drama is told through dialogue and
action and is integrated with the action and is integrated with the
setting that the audience observes-setting that the audience observes-
largely from scenery and propslargely from scenery and props

7. Types of DramaTypes of Drama

8. TragedyTragedy
It is one of the oldest forms of It is one of the oldest forms of
drama. It exposes the plight and drama. It exposes the plight and
suffering of humans to the suffering of humans to the
audience.audience.
The theme of a tragedy usually The theme of a tragedy usually
rotates around the ruins of a rotates around the ruins of a
dynasty, downfall of man, emotional dynasty, downfall of man, emotional
betrayals, moral setback, personal betrayals, moral setback, personal
loss, death, and denials. A tragedy loss, death, and denials. A tragedy
when composed and enacted well when composed and enacted well
can touch you deeply. can touch you deeply.

9. ComedyComedy
A comedy makes us laugh A comedy makes us laugh
when the play is well-composed when the play is well-composed
with the humorous elements. with the humorous elements.
The story is usually based on The story is usually based on
real-life characters, funny real-life characters, funny
experiences in life, or any type experiences in life, or any type
of fun-provoking situation.of fun-provoking situation.

10. MelodramaMelodrama
Melodrama is Melodrama is exaggeration exaggeration
of emotionsof emotions. It's marked by a . It's marked by a
surge of emotions, which is a surge of emotions, which is a
technique to make the technique to make the
character and the plot more character and the plot more
appealing to the audience. A appealing to the audience. A
melodrama can sometimes melodrama can sometimes
fail to derive applause, fail to derive applause,
because excessive display of because excessive display of
emotions can become sheer emotions can become sheer
monotonous. monotonous.

11. FarceFarce
According to the definition given According to the definition given
by Britannica, it is a comic by Britannica, it is a comic
dramatic piece that uses highly dramatic piece that uses highly
improbable situations, improbable situations,
stereotyped characters, stereotyped characters,
extravagant exaggeration, and extravagant exaggeration, and
violent horseplay. Farce, violent horseplay. Farce,
although a sub-category of although a sub-category of
comedy, is intellectually inferior comedy, is intellectually inferior
to comedy because the plots to comedy because the plots
and the characters are and the characters are
substantially crude, ambiguous, substantially crude, ambiguous,
and unimaginative.and unimaginative.

16. CharacterCharacter
The characters that form a part of the story The characters that form a part of the story
are interwoven with the plot of the drama. are interwoven with the plot of the drama.
Each character in a play has a personality of Each character in a play has a personality of
its own and has a distinct set of principles its own and has a distinct set of principles
and beliefs. Actors who play various roles in a and beliefs. Actors who play various roles in a
drama have the very important responsibility drama have the very important responsibility
of bringing the characters to life. of bringing the characters to life.

17. SettingSetting
The setting and time in a play tell us where the story The setting and time in a play tell us where the story
happened and the time it occurred.happened and the time it occurred.
The setting is very important because what usually The setting is very important because what usually
happens in the play is influenced by it. Visual happens in the play is influenced by it. Visual
components of a setting maybe limited to a painted components of a setting maybe limited to a painted
tree, a bridge, or a hut, or it could be more elaborate. tree, a bridge, or a hut, or it could be more elaborate.
Shifts in time and space are often indicated by the Shifts in time and space are often indicated by the
actors through their speech and movements.actors through their speech and movements.
In setting, the lighting plays an important role for it In setting, the lighting plays an important role for it
shows an illusion of time. Lighting also may be used to shows an illusion of time. Lighting also may be used to
focus on an action or stress the importance of an focus on an action or stress the importance of an
event.event.

18. DialogueDialogue
The words uttered by characters in a play forms a The words uttered by characters in a play forms a
dialogue. The dialogue reveals the plot and characters dialogue. The dialogue reveals the plot and characters
of the play. What is spoken must be suitable to the of the play. What is spoken must be suitable to the
situation and the role of the character.situation and the role of the character.
The story of any play is taken forward by means of the The story of any play is taken forward by means of the
dialogue. The story is narrated to the audiences dialogue. The story is narrated to the audiences
through the dialogue written by the playwright. The through the dialogue written by the playwright. The
success of a drama depends hugely on the contents of success of a drama depends hugely on the contents of
the dialogue and the quality of dialogue delivery by the the dialogue and the quality of dialogue delivery by the
actors of the play. actors of the play.

19. PlotPlot
The order of events occurring in a play is referred to as The order of events occurring in a play is referred to as
the plot of the drama. It is the basic storyline that is the plot of the drama. It is the basic storyline that is
narrated through a play. The entertainment one narrated through a play. The entertainment one
derives from a play depends largely on the sequence derives from a play depends largely on the sequence
of events that occur in the story. The logical of events that occur in the story. The logical
connection between the events and the characters, connection between the events and the characters,
which enact the story form an integral part of the plot which enact the story form an integral part of the plot
of drama. of drama.

20. Acts and ScenesActs and Scenes
An act is a part of a play defined by elements such as An act is a part of a play defined by elements such as
rising action, climax and resolution. rising action, climax and resolution.
A scene is a part of an act defined with the changing of A scene is a part of an act defined with the changing of
characterscharacters

21. Strategies for Reading Drama
1.Read the play silently.
2.Figure out what is happening.
3.Read stage directions carefully.
4.Get to know the characters.
5.Keep track of the plot.
6.Read the play aloud.

22. Conclusion
Still, there is far more that Drama can do. At
the center of all drama is communication. Like
all the arts, drama allows students to
communicate with and understand others in
new ways. Perhaps more than any other art
form, drama also provides training in the very
practical aspects of communication so
necessary in today’s increasingly information-
centered world.

23. Thank
You !!!