ENS Constantine Teacher:

Module: LIT, 4th year Mrs. Hayet Abdelli Azeroual

INTRODUCTION TO DRAMA

In literature, a drama is the portrayal of fictional or non-fictional events through the

performance of written dialogue (either prose or poetry).

 The Greek word for “deed” or “action” is dram.

 Plays of the past had a stronger basis in religion and tradition.
 The two masks associated with drama represent the traditional generic division between comedy
(Thalia) and tragedy (Melpomene).

Greek origins

 Western drama originates in classical Greece.

 Greek drama was characterised by the chorus, or group of people, who commentate on the story as it
unfolds.

Roman Influences

 Many Romans reworked the original plays, dividing the stories into episodes, removing the choruses and
replacing them with a musical element like an orchestra, or having them singing.
 The Roman times were still influenced by Greek gods and mythological Greek culture, but Roman theatre
was equally expressive of themes significant to Rome, Sicily and society in Italy in general, as well as
classical literature and religious rites
Medieval Drama

 Medieval Europe had a low literacy rate, so records are few and far between.
 The church opposed certain performances, so some plays were either lost to time or performed in
secret.
 Throughout the Middle Ages, the church’s grip gradually loosened on the arts, so record-keeping
concerning plays eventually improved.
 In order to spread their gospel to an illiterate population, the church performed stories directly
from the Bible or based on the lives of saints. 

Renaissance Drama

 The Renaissance was a new era for science, philosophy, and art. During this time, theatre as we
know it today came to be, complete with widespread professional acting troupes and playhouses.
Many Renaissance plays are still performed and taught today.
 The main themes tackled in renaissance drama were violence and revenge because they focused on
translated classics
 Political problems inspired writers

Elizabethan drama

 During this era, there was a shift from religious drama to secular drama, from drama that focused on God,
to drama that focused on people
 In England the greatest of the playwrights is William Shakespeare. Shakespeare himself acted in his plays
and was a member of an acting troupe called “The King’s Men”; his plays were performed in the Globe
Theatre.
 His plays were more structural than had ever been seen before, and represented comedy tragedy
combined to give well-rounded performances offering something for everyone.