What Is a play? Flashcards
Theatre
Comes from Greek word “to see”
Conflict
First concern of action in Drama
Play
It’s a story based on a plot devised to be presented by actors on a stage before an audience.
Plot
Divided into slices of life or episodes.
Episode
Starts anytime a new character arrives or leaves the stage
They are played out with dialogue between characters on stage sometimes the audience
Scene
Many episodes make up a scene which are used to show when time and place has changed and many scenes make up an Act
How long should a play last?
No longer than 2-3 hours therefore there is no time to waste and it’s performed as quickly and clearly as possible
Playwrights
People who write plays
Author of plays are Playmakers
A Playwright must be aware of how a play sounds rather than how it’s read
Must also be aware of the audience
Theatre Layouts(3)
The Greek Theatre
The Elizabeth Theatre
The Modern Stage
Act
Division in a play
Can contain one or more scenes
Modern drama has 2-3 Acts
19th Century drama has 5 Acts
Climax
Highest point of interest-Complication ceases and resolution begins
Complication
Element that causes conflict (new situation…)
Dialogue
Convo between characters (reveals plot and much about characters speaking)
Dramatic personae
The cast-List of characters
Foil
A character due to his contrast brings out the qualities of another character in the play
Tragedy
A form of Drama where the protagonist is overcomes by the obstacles(loses)
Comedy
A form of Drama where the protagonist is triumphant
Motive
Reason why a character acts the way they do
Protagonist
Lead in a play
Suspense
Uncertainty of the reader on the outcome of the conflict
Style
The way a playwright wrights (casual or formal)
Stock Character
Stereotypical character
Foreshadowing
Giving the audience hints of things to come
External Time
The time required for a play to be performed on stage
Internal play
Time in the actual plot of the play
Iambic Pentameter
Stressed (short) syllable followed by an unstressed (long) syllable which are five in a row
Ex: Two households both alike in dignity
da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM
Drama
Comes from Greek word “to do”. Drama is both the Play and Performance.
