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Definition
Unlike short stories or novels, plays are written for the express purpose of performance.
Definitions
For the most part, plays have no narrators. (There are a few notable exceptions to this rule.)
The audience must glean critical information from the action on stage.
Dealing with Details
Unlike novels or short stories, plays have special features.– Plays are divided into acts and scenes.– Scripts feature lists of characters and stage
directions which require the reader to pause and visualize the set up.
– Readers and actors must pay close attention to the dialogue in order to understand the characters and action.
The characters’ speech may take any of the following forms.
Dialogue:Dialogue: conversations of characters onstage conversations of characters onstage
Monologue:Monologue: long speech given by one character to long speech given by one character to othersothers
Soliloquy: Soliloquy: speech by a character alone onstage to speech by a character alone onstage to himself or herself or to the audiencehimself or herself or to the audience
Asides: Asides: remarks made to the audience or to one remarks made to the audience or to one character; the other characters onstage do not hear an character; the other characters onstage do not hear an asideaside
The Characters
Monologues, soliloquies, and asides are dramatic techniques that provide direct insight into motives, attitudes, and overall tone.
These techniques function like a fictional narrator.
Two Basic “Flavors”
Tragedy Tragedies treat serious subjects and often focus on the tragic hero’s character. Tragedies usually end with death.
ComedyComedies are dramatic works which use humor to explore various themes and characters. Comedies usually end on a happy note.
More Terms
Dramatic Irony– Playwrights use dramatic irony when they allow the
audience to know more than the characters do about a specific situation or incident.
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the audience hears the fiendish plot of Claudius and Laërtes. Both are determined to see Hamlet dead. Moments later, Hamlet responds to news of the King’s great wager and his own impending duel with Laërtes by saying, “[…] how ill all’s here about my heart” (V.ii. 186).
Key Terms
Melodrama– This nineteenth century view of drama appeals
to the emotions. Based on stock characters who are either villainous or virtuous, these sensational plays have happy endings.
– Like many contemporary television shows, melodramas feature static characters who deal with the world but fail to experience real growth, development, or insight.
Key Terms
Realism– Realistic drama deals frankly with social
issues and contemporary life. Instead of focusing on the lives of kings or great heroes, these dramas present a look at ordinary people and everyday problems.
Key Terms
Effects of Realism– Realism requires a shift away from painted
backdrops and scenery.– The result is the “box set” which utilizes
three, more or less, solid walls. The fourth “wall” remains open to the audience.
– Sets are decorated with real furniture.– New methods make changing scenery faster.
Key Terms
Naturalism– Like realism, naturalism developed in
response to the sentimental and sensational melodramas that were popular in the nineteenth century.
– Using realistic plots, naturalism explores the forces that influence the human condition.
Key Terms
Satire– The term satire refers to social criticism that is
cloaked in comedy and used to ridicule social institutions and figureheads.
Farce– The term farce refers to comedy that lapses
into ludicrous, improbable plots, mockery, and even slapstick.
Elements of Plot
Exposition – introduces the characters, setting and basic situation.
Rising action – presents the central conflict, complications, suspense and crisis.
Climax – the point of greatest tension.
Elements of Plot
Falling action – subsiding intensity.
Denouement – the resolution which ties up loose ends and concludes the action.
Reading Drama
Pay particular attention to the overall plot.– What are the major conflicts or issues?– When does the climax occur?– What force or forces seem to be at work in the
play, moving the action along?
Pay close attention to characters.– Who are the central
characters?– What do you know
about their personalities? How do you know this information?
– What are the characters’ strengths and weaknesses?
Photo credit: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams. Cornell Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts.
Recognizing the Theme
Most written works have a central theme and several additional themes.
–Try to identify the central theme.–Back up your interpretation with examples from the text.
.
Stage DirectionsStage Directions
Playwright describes setting Playwright describes setting and characters’ actions and and characters’ actions and manner.manner.
[Wyona is sitting on the [Wyona is sitting on the couch. She sees Paul and couch. She sees Paul and jumps to her feet.]jumps to her feet.]
Wyona.Wyona. [Angrily.] What do [Angrily.] What do you want?you want?
Performance of a Play
PerformancePerformance Theater artists bring the Theater artists bring the
playwright’s vision to life playwright’s vision to life on the stage.on the stage.
The audience responds to The audience responds to the play and shares the the play and shares the experience.experience.
If possible, watch a production of the play you’ve been reading.
How does the production correspond to your reading? How does it differ?