MODULE # 3

Reading and Writing Drama

 SUB TOPIC # 2

Plot and the Dramatic Structure

“There is only one plot –things are not what they seem."

— Jim Thompson
❑ To identify the plot an d the dramatic stricture in drama;
❑ To enumerate the different conventions used in drama;
❑ To differentiate plot used in fiction to plot used in drama; and
❑ To write effective plot lines.
• When we talk about the dramatic structure of a play, we refer to plot, just like in novel or short story.
• The physical format of a play is divided into three major divisions or acts. A three-act play has three acts,
showcasing a fuller and longer exposition of the theme and conflict. While a one-act play has one unit of
time, one unit of place, and one unit of action.
• Just like in a prose narrative, the plot of a drama revolves around ta conflict:
a. person versus himself/ herself
b. person versus another person
c. person versus group/ society
d. person versus nature/ environment
e. person versus god/ universe.
• Each sequence is organized in a way that the action is built up and tension is achieved, creating an
impact to the audience.
• Although plays are written in several forms and formats, a typical structure consists of the
exposition and introduction; conflict; rising action or complication; turning point/ climax or crisis;
falling action; and denouement or resolution.
 1 2 3 4 5 6
Rising Action Turning Denouement
Falling
Exposition Conflict or Point,
Action or Resolution
and Complication Climax
Introduction or Crisis
1 Exposition and Introduction
This is sometimes called the status quo. When the play opens, your are introduce to the characters and the
setting is established. Sometimes the introduction right away begins with the conflict. This is called in medias
res (in the middle of the action). At times, you are given hints of the impending conflict. But whatever the
structure of the play, the opening scene establishes the circumstances that involve the characters to the conflict
and sets the tone of the play.

Tennessee William’s A Streetcar Named Desire is about Blanche DuBoise, an aging Southern lady who
mysteriously visits her sister in New Orleans. In scene one, she arrives at her sister’s house totally
disdainful of the environment her sister lives in. This is the exposition and introduction of the play
because at this early, we are not yet introduced to the real conflict, but we are given some initial
indications of the theme and the mood of the play.
2 Conflict
This the point where you recognize the threat or challenge that besets the protagonist (main characters). These threats
may come from another person, a group of society in general, nature, environment, God, or even from the protagonist
himself/ herself. Sometimes referred top as the exciting force, the conflict launches the rising action of the play.
Recognizing the conflict in the structure of drama is significant because it provides the characters motivation for their
actions and the audience motivation to feel and care for these characters.

The following is a list of the common conflicts used in plays.

1. Conflicts between a person and another person which may arise between love, hate, rivalry or competition, strong pursuit or
obsession, or betrayal.
2. Conflicts between a person and a group or society in general where the exciting forces could be rebellion, revenge,
persecution, or war.
3. Conflicts between a person and environment or nature which may arise from a catastrophe, rescue, survival, or grief over
death or loss.
4. Conflicts between a person and God or the universe where the exciting force may be about the protagonist’s faith or his/her
lack of it, the triumph of good over evil, and the search for life’s meaning.
5. Conflicts between a person and himself/ herself which may arise from self-sacrifice, self-destruction, greed, or ambition.
2 Conflict
This the point where you recognize the threat or challenge that besets the protagonist (main characters). These threats
may come from another person, a group of society in general, nature, environment, God, or even from the protagonist
himself/ herself. Sometimes referred top as the exciting force, the conflict launches the rising action of the play.
Recognizing the conflict in the structure of drama is significant because it provides the characters motivation for their
actions and the audience motivation to feel and care for these characters.

The conflict of Tennessee William’s A Streetcar Named Desire begins in Scene Two. After we are
introduced to the characters of Blanche DuBois, her sister Stella, and Stella’s husband Stanley, we
discovered the mysterious reason for Blanche’s visit to Stella in New Orleans. Stanley judges
Blanche’s character but Stella defends her in their heated discussion while Blanche is in the
bathroom. In this scene, we begin to care for Blanche but many things are still unclear to us.
3 Rising Action or Complication
As immediately as the conflicts sets the action in motion, the play figures a dramatic tension that builds
up toward a confrontation. This dramatic tension fluctuates, providing emotional tension between the
characters, and the audience learns further details about them that were not initially provided in the
introduction and conflict. Furthermore., the conflict becomes even more complicated at this point.

In scene sic of Tennessee William’s A Streetcar Named Desire, the plot gets more
complicated when Blanche and Stanley clash and Stella, Blanche’s sister and Stanley’s
wife, is torn in the middle. And then, Harold Mitchell, one of Stanley’s friends, gets
smitten and falls in love with Blanche. Here. Then characters get caught in a series of
events involving Blanche’s past, deception, and revelation.
4 Turning Point , Climax, or Crisis

The turning point of the story, this is the highest point where the protagonist comes face to face
with and struggles against the main conflict and we, the audience, are kept at the edge of our
seat. Will the protagonist come out successful, or will he or she be beaten by the conflict?

In scene nine of Tennessee William’s A Streetcar Named Desire, the climax points out the details
why Blanche left her home in the South and squandered away her fortune. Mitch gets to know her
intimately and discovers her true nature and leaves her. Stanley lashes out on her abut her troubled
past and Blanche gets a last grip of her sanity.
5 Falling Action
Generally, the falling action more fleeting and short-lived than the rising action, but may still
cover some griping moments in the play. This part gives the audience a sense of conclusion, with
several unsettled questions at work within the plot, giving some sense of resolution to the play.

In scene ten of Tennessee William’s A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche is seen in the
brink of madness. She lashes out on Stanley and concocts stories to keep her sanity but
Stanley reveals all her deceits. At this point, we see Blanche as an unstable character
who may need professional help.
6 Denouement or Resolution
Tis is the concluding part of ending of the play. We see this part whether the protagonist has
won or lost, order is brought back, and problems are resolved.

In scene eleven of Tennessee William’s A Streetcar Named Desire, the hospital doctor and the staff
come over and pledge to take Blanche, now mad. She replies to them, “ Whoever you are. I have
always depended on the kindness of strangers.”
 Structural Factors
How the structure is utilized by the playwright is dependent on various factors. Among these are:

1 2 3 4 5
The The The use of The
length of intended dramatic The genre of
the play. audience elements settings the play
 Dramatic Elements
A playwright’s understanding of structure is not complete without a sense of awareness of the many
techniques and devices - dramatic elements- available to create various effects. Here are a few:

Action It is what the characters say or do to achieve their objective.

Antagonist It is the character or situation that stands against the protagonist.

Sometimes called spine or through time, it is the play’s storyline—what the

Arc audience wants to find out.
 Dramatic Elements
A playwright’s understanding of structure is not complete without a sense of awareness of the many
techniques and devices - dramatic elements- available to create various effects. Here are a few:

When an actor speaks directly to the audience, the other actors on stage are
Aside supposedly unable to hear what he or she says. It was used during the Renaissance
drama as a way of letting the audience know the actors’ inner feelings. In the 19th
century, it was used to interject comedy or melodrama.

Backstory It pertains to the events that happened in the past.

These are the ones that cause conflicts with the introduction of new
Complications
characters, information, or events.
 Dramatic Elements
A playwright’s understanding of structure is not complete without a sense of awareness of the many
techniques and devices - dramatic elements- available to create various effects. Here are a few:

Conflict It pertains to the problem caused by the opposing objectives of the protagonist and
antagonist.

Deus ex It refers to the Greek practice of physically lowering a “god” to the stage at the end
machina of the play to solve all the problems. Today, it is regarded as a contrived way of
doing so.
It is what is achieved when the main characters finally realizes the reality of the
Discovery situation.
 Dramatic Elements
A playwright’s understanding of structure is not complete without a sense of awareness of the many
techniques and devices - dramatic elements- available to create various effects. Here are a few:

It refers to the sue of a subplot or second plot in the weaving in and out of the main
Double Plots plot, especially evident in the Elizabethan drama.

It is what the audience is willing to accept as real for the sake of the story: actors presenting the
Dramatic characters of the story, the stage set representing a real location in time and space, suspended
Convention time or that which jumps forward or backward, Italians in Italy speaking English, an other
conventions.

It refers to the description or enactment of past events for the purpose of clarifying
Flashback the situation, usually as it relates to the conflict.
 Dramatic Elements
A playwright’s understanding of structure is not complete without a sense of awareness of the many
techniques and devices - dramatic elements- available to create various effects. Here are a few:

Foreshadowing It is the use of hints at the future in order to build anticipation in the audience.

Inciting
It refers to the event that launches the protagonists and gets the plot going.
incident

In Medias Res It refers to the opening scene in the middle of action.

 Dramatic Elements
A playwright’s understanding of structure is not complete without a sense of awareness of the many
techniques and devices - dramatic elements- available to create various effects. Here are a few:

It pertains to a scheme designed by one of the characters. The success of this scheme depends on
Intrigue another character’s innocence or ignorance of the situation. This usually results in a complication
in the plot.

It is a mainstay of a musical drama. Early tragedies even had both dancing and choral singing. As in
television and movies, music is used on the stage to set the drama’s mood and tone. It can also be
Music used to psychologically set the setting: classical for a period play. Native drums for Africa, Cajun music
for New Orleans, and Irish bagpipes for Ireland.

It is an actor’s speech delivery in the presence of other characters who do not speak
Monologue but listen.
 Dramatic Elements
A playwright’s understanding of structure is not complete without a sense of awareness of the many
techniques and devices - dramatic elements- available to create various effects. Here are a few:

Is the main character of the story. He or she is the character with a mission or is
Protagonist involved in a quest.

It happens when the main character either fails or succeed. It is also called as
Reversal peripety.

These are the portions of an act, sometimes triggered by the clearing of the stage for
the next “scene”. Some scenes are relief scenes (widely used in English drama). Those
Scenes scenes allow the audience to relax briefly in the tension of the drama or to add as
sense of poignant sadness.
 Dramatic Elements
A playwright’s understanding of structure is not complete without a sense of awareness of the many
techniques and devices - dramatic elements- available to create various effects. Here are a few:

Soliloquy It is a speech delivered by an actor when he or she is alone to express

thoughts.

Stakes These are what the characters stand to gain or lose if they succeed or not.

Surprise It is something that happens out of the audience’ s expectations.

 Dramatic Elements
A playwright’s understanding of structure is not complete without a sense of awareness of the many
techniques and devices - dramatic elements- available to create various effects. Here are a few:

It consists of events that create a sense of uncertainty concerning what will happen to
Suspense the characters.

French and Italian critics of the 16th and 17th centuries believed that a play needs
Three units three unities to achieve verisimilitude (believability): unity of action (first suggested
by Aristotle), unity of place (a single location), and unity of time (the play portraying
no longer than a 24 hour period)
 Tone in Drama
Drama is very similar with prose, specifically with the
narrative form, in terms of the elements utilized by the
writer in setting the tone such as the use of language and
revelation of the characters. However, drama possessed
one distinct feature that can mark the tine, both the
individual elements as well as the entirety of the play:
drama is designed to be mounted on stage by performers.
Therefore, the writer can include stage directions
concerning the tone of the voice, gestures, and facial
expressions for the delivery of dialogues.
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Creative Writing . Quezon : C & E Publishing , Inc. .
Marantan, R. M. (2016). Creative Writing. Malabon: Jimezyville Publications.
Toralba-Perez, A. (2001). Creative Writing . Quezon : Omniscience Publishing,
Inc.
Drama. (2017, October 8). Literary Devices.
https://literarydevices.net/drama/