The Basic Elements of Drama
Steve Wood
DRA 111
TCCC
Theater and Drama
“Theater” comes from
the Greek “theatron,”
which literally means
“seeing place.”
“Drama” comes from
the Greek “dran,”
which means “to do.”
Basic Elements of Drama 1
The place – Following the Greek
“theatron,” the location of the dramatic
production, the type of theater building,
is an important aspect of the experience.
Basic Elements of Drama 2
·
A Story – According to Aristotle, drama is
based upon mimesis (the imitation of an action).
Climax
Rising
Action
Exposition
In medias res
Falling
Action
Denouement
Basic Elements of Drama 3
Within the story, there
are the characters.
The main character is
called the protagonist.
The opposing character
is called the antagonist.
Characters and Actors
Within the plot, there
are characters. Within
the performance, there
are the actors who bring
the characters to life.
Acting performances
involve 1) Voice, 2)
Movement and 3)
Gestures.
A Famous Definition of Drama
Drama involves three boards,
two characters, and one truth.
Other Basic Elements of
Drama
Scenery
Costumes
Props (also known as hand properties)
Conventions
Basic Elements of Drama
The audience is the
essence of any
dramatic production.
THE TRUTH
Last, but certainly not least, great drama
always possesses an element of truth.
The paradox of drama is that this truth exists
in spite of the fact that everything about drama
is a sham: actors are pretending to be other
people; costumes, scenery, and props deceive
the audience into believing the stage is some
other place; the plots are not usually true in the
sense that a newspaper story is true.