Reading & Studying Drama
Differentiation from prose fiction
• “There is a strong family resemblance between drama
and prose fiction. Both genres are narrative text types,
and it is for this reason that the theory of drama and
the theory of narrative texts cover a good deal of
common ground” (Jahn D1.1)
• A play is a multimedial form designed to be staged in a
public performance. A play is 'multimedial' in the sense
that it uses both auditory and visual media: a play's
audience has to use their eyes as well as their ears (a
novel, in contrast, is a 'monomedial' form). (Pfister)
Narrative communication in drama
From Manfred Jahn’s “A Guide to the Theory of Drama”, 2003
- On the outer level, nonfictional communication occurs between playwright (primary
author) and director, producer, actors, composer, etc. (secondary authors), based on the
text.
- On the intermediate level, fictional mediation sometimes occurs in plays using a narrator.
- On the innermost level, fictional action occurs when the play’s characters communicate
Freytag’s Pyramid (1965):
Well-known timeline model describing the structure of a
classical five-act tragedy; also applicable to other formats
Define the elements above in A Streetcar Named Desire
Vocabulary I
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act: a major unit (or structural division) of a play
aside: words spoken directly by actor to audience
catastrophe: action at a tragedy’s end, initiating the denouement
catharsis: purging of emotion (pity and fear) in a tragedy’s audience
chorus (refrain): characters in tragedy who comment but don’t participate
denouement: the resolution of the plot at the end of a play
deus ex machina: the resolution of a play’s conflict with
supernatural intervention, or any artificial means
dialogue: conversation between characters
drama: literary composition intended to be performed by actors
dramatic monologue: speech made by character to silent listener
dramatis personae: the characters in a play (from Latin)
exposition: first stage of a drama, providing background information
falling action: action following climax, leading to denouement
Vocabulary II
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fourth wall: imaginary removed wall in play’s set
gesture: physical movement by character during a play
mise-en-scène: arrangement of a play’s scenery to represent setting
pathos: play’s action that stimulates pity in audience
props: articles or objects appearing on stage
rising action: conflicts and crises that lead up to a climax
scene: subdivision of a play with fixed setting & continuous time
script: the written (as opposed to performed) form of a play
set: objects and backdrop making up a stage scenery
soliloquy: a speech in a play meant to be heard by the audience, but
not the other characters on the stage
• stage direction: playwright’s descriptive or interpretive comments
• staging: the spectacle a play presents on the stage
• tragedy: play involving reversal of fortune, characterized by suffering
• tragic hero: privileged, exalted character who suffers a fall from glory
Visualize the characters
Consider the setting
Play the director
Sources: those in boldface are the most informative
• http://www.uni-koeln.de/~ame02/pppd.htm
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http://www.theatregiftvouchers.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2
• http://highered.mcgrawhill.com/sites/0072405228/student_view0/drama_glossa
ry.html#reversal
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http://www.csus.edu/indiv/s/santorar/engl190v/pref-notes-street.htm
http://makingtheturn.net/blog/2010/04/a-streetcar-named-desire/
http://cphshops.com/photos/albums/paints/Streetcar_set_2.sized.jpg
http://www.robertaonthearts.com/id340.html
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/31/1992426.htm
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/theatre/2009/12/14/091214crth_theatre_lahr
http://www.rosemaryharris.net/rosephoto.html
http://phillyist.com/2009/02/27/phillyist_reviews_a_streetcar_named.php
http://www.1stbusiness.com/arts/artent.htm
http://www.offoffoff.com/theater/2008/blanche_survives_katrina_in_a_fema_trailer_named_desi
re.php
http://www.flixster.com/photos/marlon-brando-a-streetcar-named-desire-marlon-brando-asstanley-kowalski-11910125
http://www.liketelevision.com/blog/archives/2008_06_01_archive.html
http://www.ravenwoodmasks.com/theater-masks/greek-masks.htm