The Elements of Drama

Introduction
 Reading a play, or drama, is very different
from reading a short story or novel.
 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”
 Itmeans “to do”
or “to act”
 The doing/acting

makes drama
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.
 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
 Acts and Scenes
 Cast of Characters
 Dialogue
 Monologue
 Plot
 Setting
 Stage Directions
 Theme
 ELEMENTS OF DRAMA: ACTS AND SCENES

 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.
 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

 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:
 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:
 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
 Fade In: The picture  Fade to Black: The
gradually appears on picture gradually
the screen. disappears until all
 Pan: A swiveling that remains is a
movement of the blank screen.
camera from one side  Cut To: A sudden
to another. change from one
 Long Shot: A camera scene or character to
shot from far off. 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.