CREATIVE WRITING (GRADE 12)

Topic: Drama and its elements

DRAMATIC LITERATURE

The term dramatic literature indicates paradox; in that literature originally meant something
written and drama meant something performed.
Drama is an approach of fictional representation through dialogue and drama or performance. It
is one of the literary genres, which is an imitation of some action.
Drama is also a type of play written for televisions, theaters, radios and films.
In literature, the word drama defines a genre, or style of writing. Drama is a play that can be
performed for theatre, radio or television. These plays are generally written out as a script, or a
written version of play that is read by the actors but not the audience.
Drama refers to the script while theatre is the performance of the script.
The person who writes drama for stage directions is known as dramatists, scenarist or
playwright.

ELEMENTS OF DRAMA

Character
 The one who performed or portrays.
 Actors in the drama or in a play have the responsibility of bringing the characters to
life.

o Two types of Character

1. Round character- the characters are dynamic, meaning their status
from the start is not permanent, it is a changeable character.
2. Flat character- opposite of round character not dynamic and doesn’t
change all throughout the plot or the story.

o Two kinds of Character

1. Protagonist – the important character in the story. It is usually the main
character in the story.
2. Antagonist –a character who gives conflict to the plot.

Settings
 The time and place where a story is set is one of its important parts.
 The era or time in which the incidents in a play or in the story take place, influence
the characters in their appearance and personalities.

Conflict
 It the problem in the story that makes the plot going.
o Types of Conflict
1. Man Vs. Man – it is the conflict between main character and the other
characters.
2. Man Vs. Himself –it is the conflict between the main character himself.
 3. Man Vs. Society –it is the conflict between the main characters and the
people in the society.
4. Man Vs. Nature –it is the conflict between the characters and the
natures, such as the environments; animals, plants and trees, and etc.

Plot
 It is the chronological events in the story or the series of episodes in a story.
o Types of Plot
1. Episodic plot –by episodes. It is not applicable in movie making or film
making.
2. Literal plot –it is the plot commonly used in movie. It has no episodes or
chapters. The flow of the story has an ending in just one film.
o Elements of Plot
1. Exposition/introduction -It is where the settings and characters are
being revealed or introduced.
2. Rising action –the conflict is being introduced or welcomed in the story.
The arising of problems in the story.
3. Climax –it is the highlight of the story and the conflict is ongoing
intensely.
4. Falling action/Denouement –the conflict is being resolved ready. The
fall of the protagonist/killer in the story.
5. Resolution/ending –the ending of the story and usually in this part the
lessons or the theme is being revealed.
Dialogue
 it is the script, the speech, the words about the characters. In this element the
personality and the attitudes of the characters are being revealed.

Performances –another element which gives impact in the viewers. The actors cast different
roles, the way they portray their respective roles they assigned to them. In this element the
character’s skills and talents are being showed in the story, their roles are being introduced.

Music –in this element includes the use of sounds and rhythm in dialogs as well as in music
compositions that are used in plays. The music must be complement to the scenes that the
actors portrayed. The music or the background music has a big impact in the viewers. Music
can add beauty in the drama.

Visual element –it deals with the scenes, costumes, and special effects used in it. It is also
known as the spectacle, renders a visual appeal to the place setup. The effects should use in
drama should accentuate the portion or character of the story that is being highlighted.

Foreshadowing –the climax is being shown in the

beginning of the story.

Flashbacks –are the past events of the characters.