Various Elements,

Techniques and
Literary Devices of
Drama
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Module 6
 Objectives:

In this module, learners will be able to:

● Identify the various elements, techniques and literary

device of a drama.

Specifically, learners are expected to:

● describe drama
● recall the types of drama and
● analyze the elements, techniques and literary device
used in a drama
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 What’s in this Name

Direction: Using the organizer below, state some words

associated with drama.

Drama
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 What is Drama?
Drama comes from the Greek
Word, “Dran” which means “To
do” or “To Act”. Doing/Acting
makes drama. It is the presentation
of actions on a stage through
actors/actress before an audience.
Like a short story or novel, it has a
setting, characters, plot, and even
symbolism.
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 What Makes
Drama Unique?

Drama has one characteristic

peculiar to itself—it is written
primarily to be performed, not
read.
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 Two Types of Drama

1. Tragedy - is a form of drama in which

events lead to the downfall of the main
character, often a person of great
significance, like a king or hero.

Example: Romeo and Juliet by William

Shakespeare
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 2.Comedy - is a form of
drama that has a happy
ending. Humor comes
from the dialogue and
situations.

Example:
The Knaves of
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Shakespeare
 Elements
of Drama
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 Categories
1. Literary Elements

Aristotle’s Six Elements

1.1 Plot refers to
the action; the
basic storyline of
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the play.
 1.2 Theme refers to the message that is
intended to be expressed through the story. In
other words, it is the main idea or the lesson
to be learned from the play.

1.3 Characters and Actors the people

(sometimes animals or ideas) portrayed by the
actors.
1.4 Dialoguerefers to words written by the
playwright and spoken by the characters in the
play.
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 Forms of Dialogue:
• The conversation between two or more characters
is referred to as dialogue (usually the majority of
speech in plays consists of dialogue).
• A monologue is when one character delivers a
speech to convey his or her thoughts, although
other characters may remain on stage in scene.
Similar to a monologue, a soliloquy is a speech
made by one character but delivered when he or
she is alone on stage.
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 1.5 Music/Rhythm refers to the
rhythm of the actors’ voice as
they speak

1.6 Spectacle refers to the

visual elements of a play: Set,
Costumes, special effects
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 2. Technical Elements
2.1 Scene (Set) refers to the theatrical equipment
2.2 Costumes refer to clothing and accessories used
by actors to portray characters
2.3 Properties refer to any movable object that
appears on stage
2.4 Sound refers to the effects an audience hears
during the performance
2.5 Lights
2.6 Makeup includes costumes, wigs, and body
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paints used to transform characters

 Other Elements
1. Playwright - the author of a play (script)

2. Script - the written pages of a play. Scripts are divided into Acts
and Scenes.

Acts - long sections of a play, made up of multiple scenes,

usually designed to separate the play into its main parts and to
give the audience a “break” from the performance.
Scenes - shorter sections of a play, usually each scene occurs
in one location at a specific time. Multiple scenes make up an act.
It is often signaled by the entrance or exit of a character or change
in setting or focus of the action
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 Example from August Wilson's Fences
 
Act I Scene 2
The LIGHTS come up on ROSE hanging up clothes.
SHE hums and sings softly to herself.
It is the following morning.
ROSE. (Sings.)
Jesus, be a fence all around me every day

Jesus, I want you to protect me as I travel on my way.

Jesus, be a fence all around me every day.
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(TROY enters from the house)

 3. Setting - the place, together with other
conditions, such as time and the environment,
involved in which the events occur. The setting in
the drama can be presented through the visual
element deals with the scenes, costumes and
special effects used in it. The setting can as well
be enhanced by using viewable elements, sound
effects, and music.

4. Conflict - the internal or external struggle that

creates dramatic tension.
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 Techniques in
Drama
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 Body Language and
Vocal Dynamics Mannerisms

actors need to actors bring their

expand their vocal characters to life by
toolbox and learn moving, reacting, and
about the ways that even standing in
range, pitch, and nuanced ways that
pronunciation which are natural for their
affect performance character
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 Use and Awareness Improvisational
of Space Techniques
actors need to be
aware not just of refers to the on-
your “marks” on the-spot creativity
stage, but also of of the actors
the actors who
must interact with
or move past you
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 Common Literary Devices Used in Drama

Figures of speech
 Metaphor - is one of the most extensively used literary devices. A
metaphor refers to a meaning or identity ascribed to one subject by
way of another. In a metaphor, one subject is implied to be another so
as to draw a comparison between their similarities and shared traits

For example:
“Henry was a lion on the battlefield.”
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  Simile - are one of the most commonly used
literary devices; referring to the practice of
drawing parallels or comparisons between two
unrelated and dissimilar things, people, beings,
places and concepts. Similes are marked by the
use of the words ‘as’ or ‘such as’ or ‘like’

For example:
“He is like a mouse in front of the teacher.”
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 Common Literary Devices Used in Drama

Imagery
- the author’s attempt to create a mental picture in
the mind of the reader. It appeals to the senses.
For example:
Visual imagery - It was dark in the forest…
Olfactory Imagery (smell) – She whiffed the sweet
aroma of his drink…
Tactile Imagery (touch) - She held the soft pillow
with her rough hand…
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 Common Literary Devices Used in Drama

Symbolism
- when an object is meant to be a representative of
something or an idea greater than the object itself
- it is the frequent use of words, places,
characters, or objects that mean something beyond
what they are on a literal level.
For example:
● In Romeo and Juliet, ‘blood’ refers to the
following themes: violence, youth, passion, family
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ties.
 Common Literary Devices Used in Drama

Dramatic Irony
- involves the reader (or audience) knowing something about
what's happening in the plot, about which the character(s) have
no knowledge.
For example:
From Romeo and Juliet
“Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye / Than twenty of their
swords! Look thou but sweet, / And I am proof against their
enmity”
(act 2, scene 2).
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● Romeo tries to reassure Juliet by claiming he is invincible to her

family's hostility, but the audience knows that the young lovers
are doomed to die as a result of the feud.
 Common Literary Devices Used in Drama

Foreshadowing
- refers to the use of indicative words/phrases and
hints that set the stage for a story to unfold and
give the reader a hint of something that is going
to happen without revealing the story or spoiling
the suspense. Foreshadowing is used to suggest
an upcoming outcome to the story.
For example:
“He had no idea of the disastrous chain of events to
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follow.”
 THANK
YOU!
Do you have any
questions?
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