1. Theme
The theme of a play refers to its
central idea. It can either be
clearly stated through dialog or
action or can be inferred after
watching the entire
performance. The theme is the
philosophy that forms the base
of the story or a moral lesson
that the characters learn.
2. Setting
The time and place where a story is set is one of its important parts. The era or
time in which the incidents in the play take place, influence the characters in
their appearance and personalities. The time setting may affect the central
theme of the play, the issues raised (if any), the conflict, and the interactions
between the characters.
3. Plot
The order of events occurring in a play make its plot.
Essentially, the plot is the story that the play narrates.
The entertainment value of a play depends largely on the
sequence of events in the story.
The connection between the events and the characters in
them form an integral part of the plot. What the
characters do, how they interact, the course of their lives
as narrated by the story, and what happens to them in the
end, constitutes the plot.
4. Characters
The characters that form a part of the story are interwoven with the
plot of the drama. Each character in a play has a personality of its own
and a set of principles and beliefs. Actors in the play have the
responsibility of bringing the characters to life.
The main character in the play who the audience identifies with, is the
protagonist. He/she represents the theme of the play. The character
that the protagonist conflicts with, is the antagonist or villain
5. Enigma: This is when a question is not immediately answered
and thus draws an audience into a text. For example, a body is
discovered at the beginning of a tv detective drama like a killer’s
identity.
Ellipsis: in film this is marked by an editing transition like a
dissolve, wipe or a jump cut this is to create a gap or period from
the film’s narrative.
Exposition: this is a device that is used in tv programs and films
to give background information to the audience about the setting
and the characters involved.
Enigma, Ellipsis and Exposition
6. An open narratives usually have many characters and no foreseeable ending. a
good example of Open narrative is Soap Operas, such as EastEnders and Holly
Oaks. They're usually multi-stranded and in Chronological order or 'Real-Time
In a closed ended film you will either have a happy ending or sad ending in
most cases, for audiences that watch many films following this construct may
be a little cynical or "boring" however people may argue that having a closed
ending will provide satisfaction but sometimes the plot may be too boring and
end up with reactions that are dull
Example of a closed ended film would be Karate kid (2010) follows a linear plot
where a kid who has been transported to China being forced to follow the rules
and attend school. Attack the block is another example of an close-ended film
Open/Closed Narrative
