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dramatic structure
Page 36
1
Dramatic
Structure
2
•a play’s sequence of events, often
represented on/by a triangle
3
Dramatic
Structure
1. Exposition
is off the triangle
#1--Exposition
•What we know about the play before the real action
starts
•It can come from the dialogue
•It can come from visual elements
•costumes, setting, or props
•It can come from the program
•It is off the triangle
#1--Exposition
•All the background so we can understand the play:
•who is protagonist [main character]?
•who is the antagonist?
•what is the setting, including season & time of day?
•what is the basic conflict?
#1--Exposition Examples
•Romeo & Juliet
•R&J = dual protagonist
•setting = Verona
•Basic conflicts = R&J’s families hate one another
•Season = summer
•Juliet’s dad is having a party
Exposition
“The Three
Little Pigs”
•3 Pigs get kicked out of their homes by Mom
•Each pig must go his own way & build his own
cozy home
On page 37 in your notebook, please select 2 of the
following to complete:
1.Some of the components of exposition are ___
and ___.
2. An example of an expositional element from a
play is ___.
3. One can find information about the exposition
from ___ and ___.
4.Exposition is ___.
Collect cards from really
great students
Dramatic
Structure
2. Inciting
Incident
#2--Inciting Incident
•Point at which the story actually begins
•Inciting incident = Exciting incident
#2--Inciting Incident
•So important that most playwrights wave a flag just
before it's introduced
•They do this with a
• (Pause) stage direction
•(General stage direction) involving a physical action
•note that stage directions are usually in italics
#2--Inciting Incident
Examples
•When Romeo sees Juliet for the first time
•When Macbeth meets up with 3 Witches who tell
him that he will be king
•When Oedipus sends for Tiresius who says to
back off on the search for the killer
Inciting Incident
“The Three
Little Pigs”
•The wolf wants some lunch...and blows on
the first pig’s door
amatic Structure
3. Rising Action
#3--Rising Action
•All the important events that occur before the
climax
•All series of events that lead up to the most
important moment in the play
FYI: Don’t
write this...
• Short plays have few events
• Long plays have more events
• Typically you will be asked to record 3 5 for any play we analyze
Rising Action
“The Three
Little Pigs”
•Pig #1 goes to Pig #2 and seeks shelter
•Wolf comes & blows down #2’s house
•Pigs #1 & #2 whine to Pig #3 for shelter
•Wolf tries to blow down #3’s house
On page 25 in your notebook, please select 1 of the
following to complete:
1.Critical attributes of dramatic structure include___ and
___.
2. An example of an inciting incident is ___.
3. The key components of an inciting incident include ___
and ___.
4.To define the rising action of a play, it is necessary to
understand ___ because ___.
On page ... in your notebook, please select 2 of the
following to complete:
1.Critical attributes of dramatic structure include___ and
___.
2. An example of an inciting incident is ___.
3. The key components of an inciting incident include
___ and ___.
4.To define the rising action of a play, it is necessary to
understand ___ because ___.
amatic Structure
4. Climax
#4--Climax
•Most exciting/intense moment on stage
•Turning point for protagonist
•change for protagonist--for better or for worse
#4--Climax Examples
•Most exciting/intense moment on stage
•Characters may
•die [all bad guys in Shakespearean tragedy]
•express their passion for one another
•reveal something alarming [Oh no, I have been sleeping with
my mother and we have children?!]
•do something alarming based on that information
[stab out their eyes, kill someone, kill themselves]
Climax
“The Three
Little Pigs”
•Wolf goes down chimney
•will he eat the pigs?
•will he get trapped in the pot of boiling
water?
amatic Structure
4. Falling Action
#4--Falling Action
•All the events/action that happen right after the climax
•May be a moment of final suspense in which final
outcome of conflict is in doubt
#4--Falling Action Examples
•Juliet awakens and offs herself
•Macbeth’s head is displayed on a stick
•Rizzo tells Kenickie she’s not pregnant
Falling Action“The Three
Little Pigs”
•Soup’s on at the pig # 3’s house
amatic Structure
5. Resolution
#5--Resolution
•How the story ends
•How the conflict is finally resolved
•How the order is restored
•Come full circle
#5--Resolution Examples
•Romeo & Juliet’s family must forgive one another
•A new king is crowned/name as order is restored
•Sandy & Danny ride off in Greased Lightning Car
Resolution“The Three Little
Pigs”
•Pigs realize they must work together
•Mom says she’s proud