Lesson 1 IntroductionDrama is now commonly used to refer to a genre of film or television which is more serious than comedy. An older meaning of 'drama' was the specific mode of fiction represented in performance.The term comes from a Greek word meaning action (Classical Greek: δρᾶμα,drama), which is derived from the verb meaning to do or to act (Classical Greek: δράω, draō). The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a collective form of reception. The structure of dramatic texts, unlike other forms of literature, is directly influenced by this collaborative production and collective reception. The early modern tragedy Hamlet (1601) by Shakespeare and the classical Athenian tragedy Oedipus the King (c. 429 BC) by Sophocles are among the masterpieces of the art of drama. A modern example is Long Day's Journey into Night by Eugene O’Neill(1956).
Conventions of Drama Cast of Characters Act: a major division of a play Scenes: major division of a act Stage directions Lesson 2 Some Basic Types of Drama
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Lesson 3 Literary Terms for Drama
External Conflict & Internal Conflict
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Antagonist, Protagonist & Foil
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Dialogue, Monologue, Soliloquy & Aside
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Lesson 4 Shakespeare's Drama
William Shakespeare's plays have the reputation of being among the greatest in the English language and in Western literature. Traditionally, the plays are divided into the genres of tragedy, history, and comedy; they have been translated into every major living language, in addition to being continually performed all around the world.
Some of the most famous dramas of William Shakespeare (Click the link of each play and access to wikipedia) |
Lesson 5 Writing Your Own Drama |
More tips, go to: http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/drama/. |
Self-Evaluation
You have finished the drama unit now. Check here if you have managed all the main points in this unit.
Lesson 1 Introduction
What is drama? What are the characteristics of a drama? What are the conventions of a drama?
Lesson 2 Some Basic Types of Drama
What are the four types of drama? What are their characteristics? What are the purposes of each one?
Lesson 3 Literary Terms
What are three types of characters in a play? What are the four types of speaking forms in a play? What are the two kinds of conflicts in a play?
Lesson 4 Shakespeare's Drama
What are the major works of William Shakespeare? Why are his plays so popular? What are the charms you feel during reading his plays?
If you can answer all the questions above, you have managed the basic knowledge of drama. Move on to the next section!
Lesson 1 Introduction
What is drama? What are the characteristics of a drama? What are the conventions of a drama?
Lesson 2 Some Basic Types of Drama
What are the four types of drama? What are their characteristics? What are the purposes of each one?
Lesson 3 Literary Terms
What are three types of characters in a play? What are the four types of speaking forms in a play? What are the two kinds of conflicts in a play?
Lesson 4 Shakespeare's Drama
What are the major works of William Shakespeare? Why are his plays so popular? What are the charms you feel during reading his plays?
If you can answer all the questions above, you have managed the basic knowledge of drama. Move on to the next section!
Reference
Cash, Justin. "Satire." The Drama Teacher. <http://www.thedramateacher.com/satire/>.
Cheever, Jenny. "Different Types of Drama." Life123. <http://www.life123.com/parenting/education/drama/types-of-drama.shtml>.
"Drama." Wikipedia. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drama>.
"How to Write A Dramatic Play." Wikihow. <http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Dramatic-Play>.
Cash, Justin. "Satire." The Drama Teacher. <http://www.thedramateacher.com/satire/>.
Cheever, Jenny. "Different Types of Drama." Life123. <http://www.life123.com/parenting/education/drama/types-of-drama.shtml>.
"Drama." Wikipedia. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drama>.
"How to Write A Dramatic Play." Wikihow. <http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Dramatic-Play>.