A drama is a story enacted on stage for a live audience. The earliest known plays date back to ancient Greece in the 5th century BC and were written to honor Dionysus. A drama presents a story through dialogue and action with the intention of performance. The key elements of drama include setting, characters, plot, theme, dialogue, and spectacle. Setting identifies when and where events occur. Characters are the people in the play. Plot lays out the sequence of events. Theme is the overall idea. Dialogue is the words spoken. Spectacle refers to the visual elements like costumes and scenery. There are also technical elements like lights, sound, and makeup that enhance a performance.

2. What Is Drama?
A drama is a story enacted onstage for a live
audience.

3. ●Origins of
Drama
●The word drama
comes from the
Greek verb dran,
which means “to
do.”

4. ●The earliest known
plays . . .
●were written around
the fifth century B.C.
●produced for festivals
to honor Dionysus.

5. DRAMA
Drama is a
composition in prose
form that presents a
story entirely told in
dialogue and action
and written with the
intention of its
eventual performance
before an audience.

6. Elements of Drama

7. Setting identifies the time and place in which
the events occur. It consists of the historical
period, the moment, day and season in which
the incidents take place. It also includes the
sceneries in the performance which are usually
found in the preliminary descriptions.

8. Characters are the people in the play and thus
considered as the principal material in a drama.

9. Character Aspects
Physical Social
• Physical identifies peripheral
facts such as age, sexual
category, size, race and color.
It deals with external
attributes which may be
envisaged from the description
of the playwright or deduced
from what the characters say
or what other characters
verbalize about his
appearance.
• Social embraces all aspects
that can be gleaned from the
character’s world or
environment as exemplified by
the economic status,
occupation or trade, creed,
familial affiliation of the
characters.

10. Character Aspects
Psychological Moral
• Psychological discloses the
inner mechanism of the mind of
the character as exemplified by
his habitual responses,
attitudes, longings, purposes,
likes and dislikes. It is
considered as the most
indispensable level of character
categorization because routines
and emotions, thoughts, attitude
and behavior enable the readers
to know the character
intrinsically.
• Moral discloses the decisions
of the characters, either
socially acceptable or not,
exposing their intentions, thus
projecting what is upright or
not.

11. Plot lays out the series of events that form the
entirety of the play. It serves as a structural
framework which brings the events to a
cohesive form and sense.

12. Types of Plot
Natural Plot Episodic Plot
• Natural Plot is a
chronological sequence of
events arrangement where
actions continuously take
place as an end result of the
previous action
• Episodic Plot – each episode
independently comprises a
setting, climax, and resolution;
therefore, a full story in itself
is formed.

13. Beginning
Middle
Ending

14. Beginning identifies information about the place, such
as geographical location, social, cultural, political background or
period when the event took place.
Exposition
• Exposition is the point where
the playwright commences his
story. It reveals the identity of
story’s initial crisis.

15. Middle is composed of a series of difficulties:
Complications Crisis
• Complications bring
changes and alterations in the
movement of the action which
take place when discovery of
novel information, unexpected
alteration of plan, choosing
between two courses of action
or preface of new ideas are
revealed.
• Crisis reveals the peak of
anticipation in the series of
incidents.

16. Middle is composed of a series of difficulties:
Obligatory Scene Discovery
• Obligatory Scene identifies
the open collision between two
opposing characters or forces.
• Discovery discloses points
which are previously
unknown, characterized as
something mysterious,
strange, unfamiliar and thus
revealed through objects,
persons, facts, values, or self-
discovered.

17. Ending is the final major component of the story
which brings the condition back to its stability. This part
brings satisfaction to the audience which extends to the
final curtain as peace is completely restored.

18. Theme is considered as the unifying element
that defines the dramatized idea of the play. It
is the over-all sense or implication of the action.
It defines the problem, emphasizes the ethical
judgment and suggest attitude or course of
action that eliminates the crisis is an acceptable
way.

19. Style refers to the mode of expression or
presentation of the play which points out the
playwright’s position or viewpoint in life.

20. Major Dramatic Attitude
Realism Non-realism
• Realism is an accurate
detailed, and life-like
description in a play where
things are presented as real as
can be set in actual life, with
dialogues sounding like day-
to-day conversation.
• Non-realism is method of
presentation identified as
something stylized or
theatricalized whereby artist
uses his feral imagination in
projecting his ideas.

22. Tragedy is a type of drama that shows the downfall
and destruction of a noble or outstanding person,
traditionally one who possesses a character weakness
called a tragic flaw. The tragic hero, through choice or
circumstance, is caught up in a sequence of events that
inevitably results in disaster.

23. • Tragedies pit human limitations
against the larger forces of destiny.
right and wrong
justice and injustice
life and death
Tragedy
A tragedy is a play that ends
unhappily.
• Most classic Greek tragedies deal with
serious, universal themes such as

24. Comedy is a type of drama intended to interest and
amuse the audience rather than make them deeply
concerned about events that happen. The characters
overcome some difficulties, but they always overcome
their ill fortune and find happiness in the end.

25. A comedy is a play that ends happily. The
plot usually centers on a romantic conflict.
boy meets girl boy loses girl boy wins girl
Comedy

26. Tragicomedy is a play that does not adhere strictly to
the structure of tragedy. This is usually serious play that
also has some of the qualities of comedy. It arouses
thought even with laughter.

27. Farce is a play that brings laughter for the sake of
laughter, usually making use grossly embellished events
and characters. It has very swift movements, has
ridiculous situations, and does not stimulate thought.

28. Melodrama shows events that follow each other rapidly, but
seems to be governed always by chance. The characters are
victims in the hands of merciless fate.

29. The Elements of Drama
The elements of drama, by which dramatic
works can be analyzed and evaluated, can be
categorized into three major areas:
LITERARY ELEMENTS
TECHNICAL ELEMENTS
PERFORMANCE
ELEMENTS

30. Aristotle’s Six Elements of Drama
--Literary Elements--
Plot Theme Characters
Dialogue Music/Rhythm Spectacle

31. Plot Plot refers to the action; the basic
storyline of the play.
Initial
incident
Preliminary
event
Rising
action
Climax
Falling
action
Denouement
Six Stages in a Plot Structure

32. Theme refers to the meaning of the play.
Theme is the main idea or lesson to be
learned from the play. In some cases, the
theme of a play is obvious; other times it is
quite subtle.
Some General Themes
Theme
Conflict--
between two
individuals
Conflict between
man and a
supernatural
power
Conflict between
the man and
himself

33. Characters
Foil
Stock
Character
Stereotype Archetype
Protagonist Antagonist
Flat Round
Static Dynamic
The people (sometimes animals or ideas)
portrayed by the actors in the play. It is the
characters who move the action or plot.
Characterization is the way an author
presents a character.
Types of Characters

34. Various Forms of
Dialogue
Dialogue
This refers to the words written by the
playwright and spoken by the characters in
the play. The dialogue helps move the
action of the play along.
An exchange between two or more characters
Soliloquy
• A character that is typically alone on stage delivers a long
speech which is called a soliloquy. Emotions and innermost
thoughts of the character are revealed in a soliloquy.
Aside
• This is spoken by a character to another character or to the
audience but is not heard by the other characters on stage.
Asides reveal what a character is thinking or feeling.

35. This refers to the visual elements of a
play: sets, costumes, special effects,
etc. Spectacle is everything that the
audience sees as they watch the play.
While music is often featured in
Music/Rhythm drama, in this case Aristotle was
referring to the rhythm of the actors'
voices as they speak.
Spectacle

36. Elements of Drama in The Modern
Theater
--Literary Elements--
Characters Plot Theme
Dialogue Convention Genre
Audience

37. Genre refers to the type of play. Some
examples of different genres include
comedy, tragedy, mystery and
historical play.
These are the techniques and
methods used by the playwright and
director to create the desired stylistic
effect.
Convention
Genre
Audience
This is the group of people who watch the
play. Many playwrights and
consider the audience to be the
actors
most
important element of drama, as all of the
effort put in to writing and producing a
play is for the enjoyment of the audience.

38. --Technical Elements--
Scenery
(set)
Costumes
Properties Lights
Sound Makeup

39. Clothing and accessories are worn by
actors to portray character and period.
The theatrical equipment, such as
curtains, flats, backdrops, or platforms,
used in a dramatic production to
communicate environment.
Properties are any article, except costume
or scenery, used as part of a dramatic
production; any moveable object that
appears on stage during a performance,
from a telephone to a train
Scenery
(set)
Costumes
Properties

40. A stage’s set might be
realistic
and
detailed
Setting the Stage
abstract
and
minimal

41. Props are items that the characters
carry or handle onstage.
• The person in charge of props must
make sure that the right props are
available to the actors at the right
moments.
Setting the Stage

42. The costume director works with the
director to design the actors’
costumes.
• Like sets, costumes can be
detailed minimal
Setting the Stage

43. The effects an audience hears during
performance to communicate
character, context, or environment.
Light elements means that every
placement, intensity, and color of
lights have to be set as needed to help
communicate environment, mood, or
feeling.
Makeup includes costumes, wigs, and
body paint used to transform an actor into
a character.
Lights
Sound
Makeup

44. A lighting director skillfully uses
light to change the mood and
appearance of the set.
Setting the Stage

45. --Performance Elements--
• The use of face, body, and voice to
portray character
Acting
• The reason or reasons for a character’s
behavior; an incentive or inducement
for further action for a character in
drama.
Character
Motivation
• In responding to dramatic art, the
process of examining how the elements
of drama –literary, technical, and
performance –are used.
Character
Analysis
• The capacity to relate to the
feelings of another
Empathy

46. Conclusion
In drama, there are 3 major elements which are literary,
technical, and performance elements. Literary
elements consist of plot, theme, characters, dialogue,
music, spectacle, convention, genre, and audience.
Technical elements consist of scenery (set), costumes,
properties, lights, sound, and makeup. And the last,
performance elements consist of acting, character
motivation, character analysis, and empathy. For each
element hold specific role in ensuring the success of a
drama, we have to pay attention to each element that
constructs it.

47.  Like the plot of a story, the plot of a drama follows a
rising-and-falling structure.
Climax
tension at highestpoint
Complications
tension builds
Resolution
conflict is settled, play ends
Exposition
conflict is introduced

48. Aristotle
Aristotle (384-322 BC) was a Greek
philosopher whose writings still influence us
today. He was the firstto write about the
essential elements of drama more than 2,000
years ago. While ideas have changed
slightly over the years, we still
discuss Aristotle's list when
talking about what makes
the best drama.

49. Aristotle considered these six things
to be essential to good drama:
 Plot
 Theme
 Characters
 Dialogue
 Music/Rhythm
 Spectacle

50. The listof essential elements in modern theater is
as follows:
• Characters
• Plot
• Theme
• Dialogue
• Convention
• Genre
• Audience
Modern Theater

51.  Literary elements
 Technical elements
 Performance elements
Three Major Elements

52. Exposition: “who,when, where and what”
Initial incident: “getsthe storygoing”
 Preliminary event: Whatever takes place BEFORE the
action
Conflict: struggle between opposing forces, ideas, or
interests
Climax: The turning point or high point of a story.
Suspense: A feeling of uncertainty as to the outcome,
used to build interest and excitement on the part of the
audience
Rising action: following the initial incident and leading up
to the dramatic climax
Falling action: The series of events following the climax
Denouement: Sudden drop
Literary Elements

53. Technical Elements
Scenery (set): theatrical equipment used in a
dramatic production
Costumes: Clothing and accessories worn by actors
Props: Short for properties
Lights: to help communicate environment, mood, or
feeling
Sound: The effects an audience hears during
performance
Makeup: Costumes, wigs, and body paint used.

54.  Acting: Use of face, body, and voice to portray character
 Character analysis: examining how the elements of drama are
used
 Empathy: The capacity to relate to the feelings of another
 Speaking: The mode of expression or delivery of lines
 Breath control: Proper use of the lungs and diaphragm muscle.
 Vocal expression: How an actor uses his or her voice
 Inflection: Change in pitch or loudness of the voice.
 Projection: How well the voice carries to the audience
 Speaking style: The mode of expression or delivery of lines
 Diction: Selection and pronunciation of words; clarity of speech.
 Gestures: movement of the actor’s body to convey meaning
 Facial expression: Physical and vocal aspects used by an actor
Performance Elements

55. The World Is an Apple
By: Alberto Florentino

56. Plot
Mario and Gloria has no money to buy food for their
daughter. Mario lost his job for stealing an apple. Falsely figuring out
the situation as misfortune he left his wife and daughter, went back
to his partner in crime Pablo and did crimes again to have money.
Character
 Mario –the man who lost his job.
 Gloria –wife
 Pablo –the crime buddy of Mario.
 Tita –daughter
Exposition
 Mario enters from the street at left. He is in the late twenties
shabbily dressed and with hair that seems to have been uncut
for weeks. Gloria greeted him and then Mario asked about
the condition of their child

57. Conflict
 Man vs. Self - Internal Conflict
Setting
 House –two wooden boxes flank the doorway. At
left is an Acacia tree with wooden bench under it.
Rising Action
 Mario started to elaborate his reasons why he doesn’t have
money.
Climax
 Mario confessed that he lost his job because of stealing an
apple

58. Falling Action
 Mario revealed the reason why he stole an apple and that he’s
planning to apply as a night watchman in a company.
Denouement
 Gloria comes up him after he finishes and tries to hug him, but he
pushes her away. Suddenly confused, he sitson the steps. Gloria
sits beside him and plays with his hands. Suddenly unnerved,
Mario starts to fidget . Gloria rises and walks to the center, her
eyes burning with hate and then she saw Pablo.
Resolution
 Mario decides to get a "job" working with his old criminal friend
Pablo. He is going back to a life of thievery.

59. Mood
 Sad, angry, bad, gloomy etc.
Tone
 Acerbic, sarcastic, snarky etc.
Symbolism
 Apple - symbol of Original Sin in Christian art and literature.
Genre
 Drama

60. Dialogue
Lines of Mario:
 “whenIsaw thisapple roll out of the
broken crate, Ithought that Tita would love to have it.”
 “All right, so Ididn’t go drinking.”
 “Ithought Icould get another, without making you worry.”
Lines of Gloria:
 “I’mglad you’re home early”
 “My God! Wasn’t Ithinking of her? Whydo you think Ineed some
money? To buy me a pretty dress? Or see a movie?”
 “IknewGod wouldn’tletusdown. Henever letsanybody down.
I’llpray tonight and ask Him to let you have that job.”

61. Theme
Itisman’s basic instinct that drives himtowards hissurvival. But,
no matter what, he should not forget that society expects him to
conformto itsnorms. One’s action isweighed right or wrong and thus
should be kept towards the proper action and how wrong decisions
become greater burdens to a family.

62. REAL LIFE
SITUATIONS
Activities

63. 1. Make a script of the
assigned task to your
group.
2. Get ready to dramatize it
on December 11, 2013
(Wednesday) in front of
the class.

64. ●Group 1: Choosing
between father and a
boyfriend
●Group 2: Letting go
a friend due to some
conflicts

65. ●Group 3: Deciding
between a love one and a
newly found faith/religion
●Group 4: Deciding
whether to live
independently or to stay
with parents after
schooling