UNIT IV: DRAMA

DRAMA – A piece of art that is made in the sense that it meets the requirements of theatre. It is
stageable, can be acted with good effect and pleases the audience.

Tips for writing a good drama:

1. Make sure that you have read it aloud.
2. Be certain that the rhythms of the language are effective when spoken aloud.
3. Dramatic action is clear
4. Revelations create intended effect
5. A playwright should strive to write a play that is completely stage-worthy.

A play is intended to be presented:

A. In a playhouse
B. By actors
C. Before an audience

According to Aristotle, the drama is a combination of six essential elements: ACTION, CHARACTER,
THOUGHT, LANGUAGE, MUSIC and SPECTATCLE.

CHARACTERS:
All literature depends for its central interest on the portrayal of character. This signifies that
they are imaginary creatures structured according to some carefully defined idea of individual
distinctiveness.

PLOT- It is a special form of story. A story becomes a plot only

when its material is so arranged as to show;
ACTION - What caused the first event of the story
- How one event led to another by the operation of
cause and effect
- How the entire series mounted to some kind of crisis
- How the end flowed naturally, even inevitably, out of all
that went before.

PLOT Common parts of a plot:

a. Exposition (preliminary situation): It is the opening of the
play, the identity, and relationship of the characters to one
another, and the present situation. The exposition must be
clear from outset.
b. Inciting (Exciting force, threat or challenge): It is an
CONFLICT occurrence that sets the main action in motion. The threat
may come from a rival, protagonists past, or another aspect
of the protagonist nature or any sources that arouses his
will.

“All that means well ends well”

Prepared by: Ms. Ma. Rebecca S. Olorvida
Creative Writing/Malikhaing Pagsusulat
Faculty, Senior High School
c. Rising Action (complication); “Ties the preliminary situation into a knot.” It usually consists of
incidents in pairs, a move and a countermove, the countermove producing the next move. It also
changes the direction of the action. For example, discovery of new information, or the arrival of
new character. The substance of most complication is discovery – objects, persons, facts,
values, or self.
d. Climax (Turning point): It is the event where something is thought or said or done that
determines how the conflict will end, in favor or not with the protagonist. It is also that point in the
play which marks the highest emotional tension reached by the audience.
e. Denouement (Resolution, a tragedy or a catastrophe): It extends the climax to the final
curtain. It reestablished a stable situation to end the drama and satisfies audience expectations.

CONFLICT: It must embody a struggle between opposing forces. It certainly implies active
resistance against an obstacle of some kind.

KINDS OF CONFLICT
Two human beings
Between a human being and a group
Two groups of human being
Human being opposes society
Conflict between human being and
forces of nature
Between human being and God, Fate
or destiny
Human being
consciously/unconsciously opposing
within himself
Both struggling for the same prize, - wealth,
fame, office, another human being, or each of
whom simply wants his own way about things.
Struggling for his life or honor or happiness, or
that of someone dear to him/her or for his
principles and ideas
Struggling for its own ideas and interests
Opposes society at large, as it is represented by
some law or general system of justice, by some
custom, convention, or generally accepted idea
or human trait.
This is rare in plays though not uncommon in the
novel
Some power outside of man that seems to
determine his course.
When he sets his sense of duty against his
desire, when he is torn two ways, at war within
himself.

THOUGHT: This is third basic element of play. It includes themes, arguments, and overall meaning
of the action. It may also be used to unify a play’s dramatic action. Meaning in drama is usually
implied rather than stated directly.

LANGUAGE: Language is the playwright’s primary means of expression. A realistic play, the
characters are usually more articulate and state their ideas and feelings more precisely than their
real-life counterparts.

MUSIC: A play also uses music in the form of incidental songs and background music, - or as in
musical comedy and opera. Music may establish mood, it may characterize, it may suggest ideas or
feelings.
“All that means well ends well”
Prepared by: Ms. Ma. Rebecca S. Olorvida
Creative Writing/Malikhaing Pagsusulat
Faculty, Senior High School
SPECTACLE: It embraces all visual elements of a production in the movement and spatial relations
of characters, the lightning, settings, costumes and properties.
Setting: The stage setting must provide a background and environment for the play that shall
be suitable for its purpose and mood.

“All that means well ends well”

Prepared by: Ms. Ma. Rebecca S. Olorvida
Creative Writing/Malikhaing Pagsusulat
Faculty, Senior High School