This document provides information about dramatic texts and uses Romeo and Juliet as a model example. It defines a dramatic text as using acting to communicate ideas through dialogue, actions, and visual elements. It then outlines the typical structures of a dramatic text, including orientation, rising action, climax, falling action, and conclusion. Finally, it presents segments from Act 1 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet to demonstrate the grammatical features and format of a dramatic text, such as directions for actors, descriptions of actions, and dialogue between characters.

1. DRAMATIC
What is A DRAMATIC TEXT?
A dramatic text uses acting to communicate ideas and experiences. Dramas can be
spoken or written. They may have set lines or the actors can improvise (make up the
lines as they go along). The purpose of drama is to express the dramatist’s ideas so as to
make the audience think about life.
Drama uses dialogue (spoken words), actions and visual elements (facial
expressions, costumes, sets, etc.) to help communicate meaning.
Examples of dramatic texts include:
• film scripts
• improvisations
• stage settings
• soap opera
• street theatre
• re-enactments

2. DRAMATIC
Features of a DRAMATIC TEXT
Constructing a dramatic text
A dramatic text may be in the form of a script. A script can include an introduction
(telling the background about the drama, previous productions of the drama and
instructions for performing the drama) followed by segments of action set out in acts and
scenes. Within the drama there can be narratives, poems, monologues and verse. The
structure can be similar to a narrative: orientation, complication, sequence of events,
resolution and coda.
Grammatical features of a dramatic text
Dramatic texts can combine different text types and use variety of grammatical
structures. They usually include:
• proper nouns to identify specific characters
• use of past tense to recount events
• use of timeless present tense when indicating production details
• technical terms associated with the theatre.

3. DRAMATIC
The DRAMA scaffold
1 Orientation
Introducing the characters, setting and other information that the audience
requires to make sense of the drama.
2 Rising action
The events and interaction between characters that leads to the climax.
3 Climax
The high point of the drama.
4 Falling action
The events that allow the characters to explain or resolve what has taken
place during the climax.
5 Conclusion
A final scene where the dramatist provides a comment or moral based on the
action that has occurred within the text.

4. DRAMATIC
MODEL OF A DRAMATIC TEXT
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet was probably written by Shakespeare in 1595. The plot,
like that of many Shakespearean dramas, was not original and derived
from Arthur Brooke’s poem. The tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet
(1562) which was itself based on a sixteenth century Italian short story.
Setting
Verona and Mantua, probably around 1200 or 1300.
Characters
ESCALUS Prince of Verona
PARIS a young nobleman, kinsman to the prince
MONTAGUE
Heads of two Houses, at variance with each other
CAPULET
Uncle to Capulet
ROMEO son to Montague
MERCUTIO kinsman to the Prince and friend to Romeo
BAKGROUND
INFORMATION
Structures
DETAILS OF
SETTING
LIST OF
CHARACTERS
WRITTEN IN
THE PAST
TENSE AS
A RECOUNT
PROPER
NOUNS FOR
SPECIFC
CHARACTERS
AND PLACES
Grammatical
features

5. DRAMATIC
MODEL OF A DRAMATIC TEXT
Characters
BENVOLIO nephew to Montague and friend to Romeo
TYBALT nephew to Lady Capulet
FRIAR LAURENCE a Franciscan
FRIAR JOHN of the same order
BALTHASAR servant to Romeo
SAMPSON
servants to Capulet
GREGORY
PETER servant to Juliet’s nurse
ABRAHAM servant to Montague
An Apothecary
Three Musicians
Page to Paris; another Page; an Officer
LADY MONTAGUE wife to Montague
LADY CAPULET wife to Capulet
JULIET daughter to Capulet
Nurse to Juliet
Citizens of Verona; Kinsfolk of both Houses; Masquers; Guards; Watchmen and
Attendants
Chorus
LIST OF
CHARACTERS

6. DRAMATIC
MODELS OF A DRAMATIC TEXT
ACT 1
Scene 1: Verona. A public place.
Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY armed with swords and
bucklers.
SAMPSON : Gregory, o’ my word, we’ll not carry coals
GREGORY : No, for then we should be colliers.
SAMPSON : I mean, an we be in choler, we’ll draw.
GREGORY : Ay, while you live, draw your neck out o’ the
collar.
SAMPSON : I strike quickly, being moved.
GREGORY : But thou art not quickly moved to strike.
SAMPSON : A dog of the house of Montague moves me.
DESCRIPTION
OF THE
ACTION
Structures
DIALOGUE
Grammatical
features
DIRECTIONS
FOR ACTORS
TO BE SPOKEN,
HOWEVER,
PUNCTUATION
FOR DIRECT
SPEECH
(QUOTATION
MARKS) IS
NOT USED