Types of Drama Let us consider a few popular types of drama: ● Comedy – Comedies are lighter in tone than ordinary works, and provide a happy conclusion. The intention of dramatists in comedies is to make their audience laugh. Hence, they use quaint circumstances, unusual characters, and witty remarks. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Light-hearted tone Clever wordplay or turns of phrase Serious topics addressed in a humorous way Comical misunderstandings Happy ending Silly, offbeat characters Often ends with a wedding, especially in romantic comedies ● Tragedy – Tragic dramas use darker themes, such as disaster, pain, and death. Protagonists often have a tragic flaw — a characteristic that leads them to their downfall. ● ● ● ● ● ● A protagonist with a tragic flaw Circumstances that quickly get out of control – and not in a funny way Darker themes than a melodrama, such as human suffering, hatred, or poverty Features the downfall of a previously heroic or well-liked character An irredeemable ending that results in one or more characters’ deaths Reaches a tragic catharsis ● Farce – Generally, a farce is a nonsensical genre of drama, which often overacts or engages slapstick humor. ● ● ● ● ● ● Exaggerated humor Slapstick gags Nonsensical storyline Improbable events One or two settings Humor is often crude and inappropriate ● Melodrama – Melodrama is an exaggerated drama, which is sensational and appeals directly to the senses of the audience. Just like the farce, the characters are of a single dimension and simple, or may be stereotyped. Character tropes such as heroes, heroines, villains, mentors, etc. Sweeping stories of romance or serious topics Larger-than-life plots and circumstances (or very small stories told in big ways) Exaggerated character reactions Clear literary themes Flawed characters who must overcome their faults in order to reach their resolution ● Ending that is sometimes happy, sometimes unhappy ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Musical Drama – In musical dramas, dramatists not only tell their stories through acting and dialogue, but through dance as well as music. Often the story may be comedic, though it may also involve serious subjects. ● ● ● ● ● ● Periods of standard storyline interrupted by songs Characters often singing in unison to express feelings Songs as plot-changing devices Dramatic or comedic storylines Catchy, distinctive musical score Often lots of singing and dancing ● Tragicomedy When you combine the elements of a comedy and a tragedy, you get a tragicomedy! Tragicomedies are more complex than a drama with a few jokes, or a comedy with a serious scene. Some ways to tell if you’re watching a tragicomedy are if it has: A serious storyline told in a humorous, sardonic, or snide way Tragically flawed characters whose actions don’t result in death An ambiguous theme Broad characters who act in classically comical ways Neither a happy nor a comic ending