The Elements of Drama
Monsters are Due on Maple Street
Introduction

Reading a play, or drama, is very different
from reading a short story or novel.
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In a play, there are no long descriptions of
setting or characters.
Instead, the entire action of the play is told
through dialogue and stage directions.
Like a short story or novel, however, a
drama does contain the basic elements of
fiction and plot.
Drama

Comes from the
Greek Word,
“Dran”
means “to do”
or “to act”
 The doing/acting
makes drama
 It
Drama…
A drama tells a story and includes
such elements as character, setting,
plot, and theme.
 A drama is written to be performed in
a theater OR to be performed on
screen or film.

Drama…

A SCRIPT is the
written form of a play.

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Scripts are used in
stage productions, for
movies, and for
television shows.
A PLAYWRIGHT is
the author of a play.
A SCRIPTWRITER is
the author of a
television or movie
script.
THE ELEMENTS OF DRAMA
Important Terms
ELEMENTS OF DRAMA
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Acts and Scenes
Cast of Characters
Dialogue
Monologue
Plot
Setting
Stage Directions
Theme
ELEMENTS OF DRAMA: ACTS AND SCENES

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An ACT is a group
of two or more
scenes that form a
major division of a
play.
A SCENE is one
part of the action,
usually happening
in a particular time
and place.
ELEMENTS OF DRAMA: DRAMATIC SPEECH


Dialogue- A
conversation among
characters in a play
Monologue-A long
speech by one single
character (private
thoughts). Also,
referred to as a
soliloquy.
ELEMENTS OF DRAMA: CAST OF
CHARACTERS

A cast of characters is
a list that describes
who is in the play and
often how they are
related to each other.
ELEMENTS OF DRAMA: PLOT


Plot is the action of
main events of a
drama.
Plot follows the plot
diagram like in a
novel or short story:

exposition, rising
action, climax, falling
action, resolution
ELEMENTS OF DRAMA: SETTING

Setting is where and
when the play takes
place.

In a play, the setting is
usually described in a
note or stage direction
at the opening of the
play and each scene.
ELEMENTS OF DRAMA: STAGE
DIRECTIONS

Stage directions describe
details of the setting and
sound effects as well as
directing characters how
to speak their lines,
move, act, and look.
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Found in brackets [ ]
Describe scenery and how
characters speak
C, Center Stage
L, Stage Left
R, Stage Right
U, Upstage or Rear
D, Downstage or Front
ELEMENTS OF DRAMA: THEME

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Theme is a statement
about life around
which the playwright
builds the play.
A play’s theme is its
central idea or
message.
READING DRAMA
Before, During, and After
Reading Strategies
DRAMA: BEFORE READING

SET A PURPOSE FOR READING BY
ASKING YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING:

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What are the main characters like, and what
is the relationship among them?
What is the central conflict, and how is it
resolved?
What is the theme of the play?
DRAMA: BEFORE READING

PREVIEW THE PLAY BY USING THE
FOLLOWING CHECKLIST:
the title page, including the title and
playwright
 the cast of characters
 the general setting
 the number of pages, acts, and scenes
 any background information, photos, or
illustrations

DRAMA: BEFORE READING

PLAN A STRATEGY TO HELP YOU
ORGANIZE THE PLOT OF THE PLAY
AS YOU READ.
 For The Monsters Are Due on Maple
Street, you will be using reading
check questions and a plot diagram to
help organize the events as they
unfold.
DRAMA: DURING READING

READ WITH A PURPOSE BY ASKING
THE FOLLOWING BEFORE READING
QUESTIONS AGAIN:
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What are the main characters like, and what
is the relationship among them?
What is the central conflict, and how is it
resolved?
What is the theme of the play?
Teleplay Terms

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Fade In: The picture
gradually appears on
the screen.
Pan: A swiveling
movement of the
camera from one side
to another.
Long Shot: A camera
shot from far off.

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Fade to Black: The
picture gradually
disappears until all
that remains is a
blank screen.
Cut To: A sudden
change from one
scene or character to
another.
Terms cont.

Close-Up: A
camera shot that is
very close to its
subject.
Play Synopsis

Synopsis: The screenplay explores the affects of prejudice
and suspicion. After a bright, unknown object flashes across
the sky, the neighbors of Maple Street discover that their
electricity is gone, their cars have stopped working, and the
telephones are out of order.

A boy, Tommy, tells the neighbors stories he has read about
aliens from outer space.

He tells the neighbors that there is always a family that is “sent
ahead” who appears to be human…but really isn’t.