7th Reading - Elements of Drama Flashcards
What is a story told in dialog by performers in front of an audience - which make certain elements come to life?
Drama
What is the author of a play called?
Playwright
What are the people who perform in the play called?
Actors
What are the units of action in a drama called?
Acts
What are acts sometimes divided into?
Scenes
What is the playwright’s technique for creating believable characters?
Characterization
Why is dramatic speech important in drama?
Because it advances the story’s action
What is a conversation between the characters?
Dialogue
What is a long speech that is spoken by a single character?
Monologue
What does a monologue often reveal?
A character’s private thoughts and feelings
What are the sets of bracketed information that describes the scenery and how the characters should move and speak?
Stage directions
Name some abbreviations that playwrights use for stage directions.
"C" - center stage "L" - stage left "R" - stage right "U" - upstage "D" - downstage
What is the place where plays are usually presented?
Theater
What is the term used for the construction on stage that suggest the time and place for the action?
Set
What is another word used for set?
Scenery
What are small moveable items, such as a doctor’s clipboard or a student’s notebook, that actors use to make their action look realistic?
Props
Name the type of drama that has a happy ending, and often features normal characters in funny situations?
Comedy
What are two reasons for comedies to be written?
- For entertainment
2. To explain faults of a society
What type of drama that is in contrast with comedy and has the distinguishing feature of events that lead to the downfall of the main characters?
Tragedy
What is a word that is often used to describe plays that address serious subjects?
Drama
What are scripts for films called?
Screenplays
How are screenplays different from plays?
They include camera angles and can allow for more scene changes than a stage play.
What are scripts written for television called? They often contain elements similar to screen plays.
Teleplays
